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The report finds that the proposed Lephalale Coal Mine (LCM) and its power plant will cause significant air quality violations and severe health and economic burdens. It argues that a previous environmental impact assessment (EIA) by GESI (2017) underestimated these impacts by neglecting mercury, existing pollution sources, and secondary PM2.5 formation. The analysis indicates that while mining alone causes 93 premature deaths, burning the coal on-site increases this to 3,120 deaths, and burning it at existing plants like Medupi or Matimba could lead to up to 41,984 premature deaths. Mercury emissions are projected to cause a loss of 3,700 IQ points and 554 lives, with significant deposition in protected ecosystems like the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve.

This document is a submission of a Pollution Prevention Plan (PPP) for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by Exxaro Coal (Pty) Ltd - Grootegeluk, including a declaration of accuracy for the provided information.

Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) submitted a statement in August 2009 expressing concerns over proposed minimum emission limits. BUSA argues that the standards are unjustifiably stringent, deviate from previous industry discussions during the SABS process, and fail to account for the operational realities of upset conditions, potentially harming the competitiveness of South African manufacturing and exports.

A letter from Sasol to the South African Department of Energy dated 20 April 2012, detailing concerns that compliance with the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (AQA) may negatively impact national energy security and increase operational costs for the energy industry.

A letter from National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (Natref) to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) dated September 1, 2011, detailing the refinery's air quality compliance status and proposing amendments to the Minimum Emission Standards (MES). Natref argues that the proposed 2015 SO2 limits are unachievable and requests that the DEA recognize the emissions reductions achieved through its Residual Crude Desulphurization (RCD) unit.

This April 2014 report is a draft motivation by Sasol Infrachem for exemption from the default application of certain Minimum Emissions Standards (MES) published in Government Notice No. 893 (GN 893) under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (NEMAQA). Sasol Infrachem argues that strict compliance with certain existing and new plant standards is technically or financially unachievable for specific point sources at its Sasolburg complex. The document proposes alternative emissions limits as license conditions and provides an Atmospheric Impact Report (AIR) to demonstrate that these alternatives maintain ambient air quality within National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

The Legal Resources Centre (LRC) submitted a statement to the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs on 7-8 May 2013, opposing proposed amendments to the Section 21 listed activities of the Air Quality Act (Act 39 of 2004). The LRC argues that the 2012 amendment process lacked administrative fairness and transparency compared to the 2009 process, resulting in reduced standards for major polluters and extended compliance timeframes.

The document describes the South African Climate Change Bill as a mechanism to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, manage climate risks such as floods and droughts, and define the roles of national, provincial, and local governments. It argues that a strong legal framework is necessary to hold polluters accountable, attract climate finance, and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The text encourages public participation through community discussions and engagement with political leaders to ensure the final law is robust.

The Climate Change Bill, tabled in February 2022, aims to empower South Africa to respond to climate risks through the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and the management of climate adaptation. The document argues that a formal Act is necessary to hold government and emitters accountable, ensure legal certainty for ambitious climate action, and improve access to climate finance. To be effective, the author suggests the Bill must include strong enforcement penalties, science-based emission targets aligned with a 1.5°C limit, and high levels of transparency regarding carbon budgets.

The document describes a proposed Climate Change Bill in South Africa introduced in October 2022. The Bill aims to strengthen the country's response to climate change through three main pillars: regulating the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions via carbon budgets, managing adaptation to climate-related risks such as floods and droughts, and defining the responsibilities of government departments at national, provincial, and local levels. The text argues that the Bill is essential for protecting constitutional rights, attracting climate finance, and ensuring accountability. To be effective, the document asserts that the Bill requires strong penalties for exceeding carbon budgets, clear timelines for implementation, transparency regarding emissions data, and science-based targets to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. It concludes by encouraging citizens to study the Bill, engage with policymakers, and share personal experiences of climate change to ensure the resulting law is robust.

The document argues that adding 1.5 GW of new coal power to South Africa's electricity system is unnecessary for reliability and would increase costs, emissions, and GDP loss while reducing employment compared to a least-cost plan focusing on renewable alternatives.

Eskom responded to a PAIA request from the Centre for Environmental Rights by granting access to the 2015/2016 annual emission reports for 16 of its coal power stations, as required by the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004.

A joint submission by seven South African civil society organisations providing detailed critiques and proposed amendments to the 2019 draft regulations on financial provisioning for mining and exploration. The organisations advocate for increased public participation, a shift from annual to triennial financial reviews, stronger ring-fencing of funds during liquidation to prevent environmental degradation, and more precise legal definitions to ensure the 'polluter pays' principle is upheld.

A letter from the Minister of Environmental Affairs of South Africa to the Centre for Environmental Rights regarding a request to review and strengthen the National Dust Control Regulations.

This 2019 South African government guide establishes generic Environmental Management Programmes (EMPrs) for the development of electricity substations and overhead transmission and distribution infrastructure. It provides a legally binding framework for mitigating environmental impacts, defining roles for project managers and environmental officers, and prescribing specific actions for waste management, vegetation clearing, and site rehabilitation.

A 2015 notice from the South African Department of Water and Sanitation declaring the exploration and production of onshore hydrocarbons requiring stimulation, such as hydraulic fracturing, as a controlled activity under the National Water Act, 1998.

This briefing from Eskom to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) provides additional information regarding an application to postpone compliance with Minimum Emission Standards (MES) for the Grootvlei Power Station. The document addresses DEA requests for time series plots of air quality monitoring and data regarding PM2.5 health and environmental impacts.

The Grootvlei Power Station's 2015/16 Annual Emissions Report details the total atmospheric emissions for the financial year from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016, highlighting particulate matter challenges and the implementation of retrofit projects to reduce emissions.

The South African Department of Environmental Affairs granted Eskom postponements for compliance with minimum emission standards for particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides at the Grootvlei Power Station. The decision includes a phased reduction for PM until 2020 and extended limits for SO2 and NOx until 2025, coinciding with the station's scheduled decommissioning between 2025 and 2028. Eskom must also provide a PM pollution offset plan by March 2016.

The Grootvlei Power Station Annual Emissions Report for the 2016/17 financial year, submitted by Eskom to the Chief Air Quality Licensing Officer, details the station's pollutant emissions, the progress of a particulate matter reduction project, and compliance with atmospheric licenses.