Eskom Shifts Focus to Environmental Performance While Maintaining Grid Stability

2025-06-09

With loadshedding largely in the rearview mirror following fleet improvements, Eskom has announced plans to intensify its environmental performance initiatives while maintaining the stability South Africans have grown accustomed to in recent months.

Environmental Investment Plans

According to the utility's latest statement, Eskom has invested over R3 billion in emissions reduction projects to date, with an additional R15.6 billion allocated for environmental improvements over the next five years.

However, the utility warns that achieving full compliance with Minimum Emission Standards (MES) by 2030 would require approximately R257 billion in capital investment and R6.3 billion in annual operating costs. This would potentially add up to 10% to electricity tariffs and place further pressure on an already strained economy.

Perhaps most concerning for grid stability, Eskom cautioned that without these investments, 22GW of generation capacity risks being shut down due to sulphur dioxide (SO₂) non-compliance after 2030 — representing a significant portion of South Africa's total generation capacity.

Decades of Emissions Reduction Efforts

The utility outlined its historical emissions reduction journey dating back to the 1980s, claiming an 80% reduction in Particulate Matter (PM) emissions between 1982 and 2021 through various technological upgrades including fabric filters and electrostatic precipitators.

Newer power stations such as Kendal and Matimba were designed with low-NOx boilers, while Medupi and Kusile feature more advanced emissions control technology. Kusile Power Station has been equipped with flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) technology to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions, with similar retrofits planned for Medupi.

Community-Focused Solutions

Eskom highlighted its Masibambisane Air Quality Offset Project in Amersfoort, Mpumalanga, which assists low-income households in transitioning from coal and wood to electricity and LPG for domestic energy needs. The initiative aims to improve indoor air quality and health outcomes in communities near power stations.

"We are committed to meeting environmental regulations through continuous monitoring, transparent reporting, and proactive plant upgrades," said Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom's Group Executive for Generation.

Environmental Performance Challenges

Despite these initiatives, Eskom acknowledged declining performance across key environmental indicators including particulate emissions, water usage, and environmental incident frequency over the past five years. The utility attributed these setbacks largely to operational pressures during the energy crisis.

The utility operates 22 ambient air quality monitoring stations, primarily in Mpumalanga, providing data on pollutants such as NOx, SOx, and particulate matter. According to Eskom, these monitoring stations show that while SOx and NOx generally meet national standards in Mpumalanga, particulate matter frequently exceeds national ambient air quality standards throughout the country due to multiple sources.

Outlook

Eskom aims to reduce fleet-wide emissions by 40% by 2030, aligning with the revised Highveld Priority Area Plan and draft Integrated Resource Plan. However, the financial constraints and technical challenges suggest this will be a difficult target to achieve.

The utility's focus on environmental performance comes after extended periods of stable electricity supply, with loadshedding largely suspended since March 2024. The challenge now becomes maintaining this reliability while addressing long-standing environmental compliance issues without significant tariff increases.

The R257 billion price tag for full MES compliance by 2030 represents a significant hurdle that will require careful planning and potentially revised regulatory frameworks to avoid compromising South Africa's energy security.

Key Terms Explained

Particulate Matter (PM): Tiny particles suspended in the air that can be harmful when inhaled. These come from various sources including coal burning, and are classified by size (PM10, PM2.5) based on their diameter in micrometers.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): A family of gases formed during combustion processes. These contribute to smog formation and can cause respiratory problems.

Sulphur Oxides (SOx): Gases produced when coal containing sulphur is burned. SO₂ is the most common and can cause acid rain and respiratory issues.

Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD): Technology that removes sulphur dioxide from power plant exhaust gases, typically by using limestone to absorb the sulphur compounds.

Minimum Emission Standards (MES): Legal limits set by South African regulations for how much pollution power plants and other industrial facilities can emit.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS): Limits set for pollutants in outdoor air to protect public health, establishing maximum acceptable concentrations for various pollutants.