South Africa Allows Some Coal Plants to Top Emissions Limits | OilPrice.com
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Breaking News:
South Africa has allowed eight coal-fired power plants run by state-owned utility Eskom to exceed air pollution and emissions limits this decade as the most industrialized economy in Africa looks to avoid crippling electricity blackouts.
Six of the coal plants were granted a five-year exemption that allows them to breach the limit of emissions in the country’s air quality regulation. Two other coal-fired power plants were exempted from these regulations until 2034, which is their planned decommissioning date.
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Despite the exemptions granted, South Africa isn’t giving Eskom a “blanket reprieve” from the emissions regulations.
“These exemptions are not a blanket reprieve but are tailored to each facility with stringent conditions,” Environment Minister Dion George said at a press conference on Monday, as carried by Reuters.
Last year, Eskom received government approval to keep five of its old polluting coal power plants operational for five years after the country implements a limit on plants’ emissions in 2025.
South Africa has been in the grips of an energy crisis with daily rolling power cuts that have been crippling the economy as Eskom continually fails to boost generation capacity to keep pace with growing demand in recent years.
South Africa, one of the world’s largest coal producers and exporters, continues to rely on coal for a large part of its energy mix. Currently, some 85% of South Africa’s electricity is generated at coal-fired power stations.
Despite efforts to boost the share of renewables in its power mix, South Africa continues to rely on coal, also because it is seeking billions of U.S. dollars in support from international lenders and partners for its Just Transition plan.
Minister George said last week that South Africa should consider shifting to renewable energy sources as essential.
“The transition to renewable energy is not negotiable,” George stated. “South Africa’s economic future depends on more renewable energy entering the grid, not less.”
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
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