Eskom: R107bn to cut sulphur outflow

ESKOM spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe says the utility has committed to spending R107 billion on cutting emissions from its power stations.

“Eskom developed a phased-in sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission reduction plan which was communicated in the postponement application submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs in December 2014.

“The plan is phased to reduce emissions at the stations with the highest emissions and accommodate the significant cost of retrofits within the limited capital expenditure budget.”

Phasiwe says Eskom is preparing to install flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) plants at Medupi, six years after each unit is commissioned.

“The FGD will limit SO2 emissions at Medupi to less than 500 milligrams per cubic metre. It will continue to monitor the ambient air quality in Marapong and downwind of the power stations and will investigate whether there are any local pollution sources, which can be addressed to improve ambient air quality.

“All of Eskom’s power stations have technology installed to remove particulates (ash) from the flue gas. All power stations remove at least 99% before the plume is released to the atmosphere. Several stations also have low nitrogen oxide burners or have a boiler design which reduces emissions.”

Eskom runs an extensive network of ambient air quality monitoring stations to measure emission impact .

“The law allows for a maximum five-year postponement of the emission standards (per application), so that is what Eskom is requesting in this application.

“For Medupi, Eskom will be requesting postponement until flue gas desulphurisation is installed on all six units (so a further postponement will be requested for some, but not all, of the units, depending on their commissioning dates).

“Eskom is still assessing SO emission reduction options for Matimba.

“Matimba and Medupi have been granted a postponement of the 500mg/Nm3 emission limit until 2025.”

Ambient monitoring both in Marapong and downwind of Medupi and Marapong shows that there is compliance with ambient sulphur dioxide standards.

“Therefore, people are not being placed in unacceptable risk,” he says.

He says the National Ambient Air Quality Standards “can never be absolute but are set at concentrations that protect most people from adverse health effects. The standards also include a safety ‘buffer’.”

Any balanced discussion on health impacts, he says, should weigh the health benefits as well, both of the electricity that is produced, which results in many residential areas having much cleaner air than they would have than if they burnt solid fuel in their houses, and of the benefits of keeping electricity tariffs down by deferring the retrofit of emission reduction technology.

“As electricity becomes less affordable, more lower-income households shift back to using dirtier fuels like coal and wood.” -- Sheree Bega