Eskom plans to capitalise on the recent exemption granted for sulphur dioxide pollution control and reintroduce four units at Kusile Power Station into the grid by December, which will provide a crucial addition of 3 000MW of power.
The power utility started the project on Saturday with the activation of unit 3 immediately following the exemption’s approval.
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Units 1 and 2 will be linked to the grid by early to mid-October, while unit 5, unaffected by the exemption, is scheduled to come online in December.
Kusile’s six units have the potential to generate up to 800MW, with approximately 720MW expected to be delivered to the grid from each unit. Currently, only one unit is connected to the grid.
TimesLIVE reported: The exemption, which was granted by Environmental Minister Barbara Creecy in March, was supported under the provisions of the Air Quality Act on Monday and received concurrence from the Nkangala municipality on Thursday night, enabling Eskom to activate three units at Kusile without the need for flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) chimneys, which were damaged in October of the previous year due to a slurry build-up.
The FGDs play a role in reducing the emission of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere.
Eskom temporarily addressed the FGD repair issue by constructing three makeshift stacks, which means the affected units will operate with elevated sulphur dioxide emissions above current standards until repairs are completed.
Despite challenges from environmental organisations in June, Minister Creecy upheld the exemption, permitting Eskom to temporarily bypass national air quality regulations. This exemption comes with stringent conditions, mandating Eskom to provide monthly progress updates on FGD repairs to the national air quality officer.
In her ruling, Creecy stated, ‘These reports must be made publicly available on the applicant’s [Eskom’s] official website. This is to ensure that the postponement [exemption] is of a temporary nature and the applicant is held to account.’
Creecy adds that Eskom must make these reports available to the public through its official website, ensuring transparency and accountability for the temporary exemption.
Eskom is required to monitor the emission of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere and its effects on local animals, particularly poultry and pigs on properties related to organisations that opposed the exemption.
The project, without unforeseen disruptions, is forecasted to supply South Africa with enough power to eradicate or lessen loadshedding substantially during the festive season.
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