Question NW2291 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs

Reply:

Eskom’s plans to decommission some of its power stations first came to the Department’s attention during its applications for postponement of compliance timeframes with minimum emission standards (MES). In its applications for postponement, Eskom indicated the life-span of each of the power stations, and this information was factored in the postponement decisions. Since the life-span of the power stations was factored in the postponement decisions, the Department expects Eskom to live up to these commitments. In the event that non-compliances take place, the Department will address them following the current procedures of compliance monitoring and enforcement.

Although the Minister responsible for Environmental Affairs and/or her Department may not take any particular steps towards the decommissioning of Eskom’s oldest plants which are due for decommissioning in the next three years; it should be noted that such decommissioning would have benefits for air quality management and climate change. This is in the sense that there would be reduction of Eskom’s contribution to air pollution upon decommissioning of some plants as it would be with any other source that is discontinued.

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