South Africa’s state power company, Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, has disputed the findings of a Greenpeace report that accuses it of operating some of the world’s worst emission sites for toxic nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. The Major Air Polluters in Africa report, released in collaboration with the Centre For Research on Energy and Clean Air, claims that coal-fired plants operated by Eskom account for five of the world’s 10 biggest single-source nitrogen-dioxide emission sites and two of the 10 worst sulfur-dioxide sites.
Eskom has responded to the report by stating that the findings were based on satellite interpretation of high levels of nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere, linking them to ground-level health impacts. The company maintains that at ground level, its plants mostly comply with South African nitrogen-dioxide emission levels, with any non-compliance being attributed to nearby vehicle traffic and other industrial sources. However, South Africa heavily relies on coal for more than 80% of its electricity generation, leading to some of the world’s worst air pollution. Despite having emission standards that are less stringent than those in China and India, enforcement is lacking.
In response to these issues, Eskom has taken steps to reduce emissions from its coal-fired plants. Its newest coal-fired plants have low NOx burners to reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions and flue-gas desulfurization units to reduce sulfur-dioxide emissions. However, an accident at Kusile has caused equipment malfunction and resulted in bypassing of these measures at present. Overall, while Eskom acknowledges the need for improvements in its emissions standards and enforcement practices, it remains committed to ensuring that its power generation meets South Africa’s energy needs while also minimizing its impact on public health and the environment.