Thabametsi Power Station Limpopo Province Climate Change Study and Palaeontological Impact Assessment

The report evaluates the Thabametsi Power Station's impact on climate change and palaeontological heritage. It finds that the plant will have a 'High (Negative)' impact due to 'Very Large' annual GHG emissions of approximately 9.88 million t CO2e. While the plant's emissions intensity is slightly lower than some older Eskom plants slated for decommissioning, it remains high. The climate resilience assessment identifies water shortages and quality as high risks. The palaeontological assessment finds a medium risk of impact in the Swartrant Formation and low risk elsewhere, recommending monitoring by a palaeontologist during excavations.

• The 1200 MW Thabametsi Power Station is projected to produce annual GHG emissions of 9,879,522 t CO2e during operations, with total lifecycle emissions estimated at approximately 296 million t CO2e over 30 years.
• The project's GHG emissions magnitude is rated as 'Very Large' based on international lender standards, leading to an overall significance rating of 'High (Negative)'.
• The plant's estimated emissions intensity is 1.23 t CO2e / MWh, which is higher than the projected 2021-22 average for Eskom's coal-fired fleet (1.05 t CO2e / MWh) but similar to or lower than five specific Eskom plants scheduled for decommissioning before 2025.
• The project's emissions are estimated to account for 1.7% to 2.5% of South Africa's national emissions in 2021, potentially increasing to 2.3% to 4.7% by 2050.
• Climate projections for Lephalale suggest temperature increases of 2-3°C by the 2050s relative to a 1961-2000 baseline, with an increase in heatwaves and drought risk between March and August.
• Three climate-related risks remain 'High' after adaptation measures: plant efficiency losses due to rising temperatures, and issues regarding water shortages and water quality.
• The probability of negative impact on palaeontological heritage is categorized as 'medium' for the Swartrant Formation and 'low' for the Cenozoic regolith and other Karoo Supergroup formations (Eendragtpan, Lisbon, and Clarens).
• The choice of subcritical steam conditions and CFB technology was driven by the Department of Energy's bid criteria, including a tariff cap of ZAR0.82/KWh and the use of low-grade coal.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2017). Thabametsi Power Station Limpopo Province Climate Change Study and Palaeontological Impact Assessment. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Thabametsi-Final-Summary-Report-Jun17.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. Thabametsi Power Station Limpopo Province Climate Change Study and Palaeontological Impact Assessment. 2017. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Thabametsi-Final-Summary-Report-Jun17.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=Thabametsi Power Station Limpopo Province Climate Change Study and Palaeontological Impact Assessment |date=June 2017 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Thabametsi-Final-Summary-Report-Jun17.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrights2017thabametsi, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{Thabametsi Power Station Limpopo Province Climate Change Study and Palaeontological Impact Assessment}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2017}, month = jun, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Thabametsi-Final-Summary-Report-Jun17.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }