In a recent report from Reuters, it has been revealed that Eskom, South Africa’s main electricity provider, is releasing too much soot into the air from its coal-fired power plants. This breach of government emission standards has affected four out of the 15 Eskom plants. These emissions include ash and soot particles and have caused concerns about public health.
Eskom has a history of reducing particulate emissions, like ash and soot, by 75% after an upgrade project in the 1980s. However, the current power shortage crisis, which is expected to slow down economic growth by around 2% this year, has forced Eskom to run its power plants at higher capacities. This has delayed necessary upgrades.
One particularly worrying plant is the Kendal power station, which is 35 years old. Recent data shows that it has emitted between 10 and 30 times the allowed limit of soot.
Lauri Myllyvirta, from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air in Finland, warns that these increased emissions pose a significant health risk, especially in the Mpumalanga coal belt, where a government report from 2021 linked over 5,000 annual deaths to a lack of enforcement of air quality standards.
Eskom might face legal consequences, with a hearing scheduled for November to address violations at the Kendal plant from 2015 to 2017.
In response to these concerns, Bheki Nxumalo, the head of Eskom’s generation, has stated that efforts are underway to make necessary repairs. The goal is to ensure that the majority of the plants meet compliance standards within two years.
