Good news for Kusile power station repairs

3 years ago 1

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Environmental affairs minister Barbara Creecy has announced that her department exempted Eskom from amending its Atmospheric Emission License, subject to certain strict conditions.

Creecy explained that amending the licence would be lengthy, and Eskom’s application is specifically about quickly restoring lost electricity generation capacity to alleviate load-shedding.

Her department granted the exemption in terms of Section 59 of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (NEMAQA) on 14 March 2023.

“Eskom’s request pertains to a temporary solution to restore lost generation capacity at its Kusile Power Station while a damaged stack undergoes repairs which are due for completion in December 2024,” Creecy stated.

“In the interim, Eskom plans to construct the temporary stacks by November 2023, which it anticipates will allow the resumption of generation capacity of 2,100MW, which will reduce the country’s exposure to load shedding by two levels.”

Creecy explained the interim solution envisages that Eskom will operate Kusile’s temporary stacks for 13 months without using flue gas desulphurisation.

This will likely cause increased sulphur dioxide emissions during this period exceeding the current applicable limit contained in Kusile’s Atmospheric Emission License.

She said Eskom must now apply to the National Air Quality Officer for a once-off postponement with the compliance timeframes for minimum emission standards for new plants.

In terms of the applicable regulations, the once-off postponement with the compliance timeframes for minimum emission standards for new plants can only be valid until 31 March 2025.

Minister Creecy said she is aware of the well-documented impacts of load-shedding, which have had far-reaching socio-economic consequences for all South Africans.

“I am equally aware of the health and associated impacts of exposure to sulphur dioxide emissions, particularly on communities in close proximity to coal-fired power stations,” said the Minister.

“In the light of the competing factors, I have been called on to make an extraordinarily difficult decision.”

Accordingly, the exemption has been granted in terms of section 59(1) of NEMAQA subject to the following conditions:

Eskom must issue a public notice in two national newspapers explaining reasons for their application
Eskom must conduct a public participation process subject to a curtailed timeframe of 14 days
Eskom must account to Minister Creecy and the Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in the National Assembly on the progress of its repair to the west stack
Eskom must undertake measures to mitigate against the exposure of its employees and surrounding communities to harm which, at a minimum, must include independent health screenings and referral to appropriate public health facilities for treatment where necessary