In Gauteng

the air quality and health impacts of failing to comply with the emission standards are potentially very significant,” he says.

A decision on Eskom’s application is set for the end of this year by National Air Quality Officer, Dr Thuli Khumalo.

In 2015, Eskom was granted a fiveyear postponement from complying with MES. In 2018, it again applied for postponements for NOX for 16 of its 19 power plants and suspensions of SO2 emission standards for most of the power plants.

“Compared against a scenario of full compliance with the MES after the five-year delay to 2025 excluding units set to retire by 2030, the various postponements, variations and exemptions sought by Eskom would allow the utility to emit an estimated 19 million tons more SO2, 1 million tons more NOX and 190 000 tons of particulate matter,” Myllyvirta points out.

“The failure to install SO2 controls would increase mercury emissions over the remaining operating life of the power plants by a total of an estimated 200 000kg. These estimates are based on the assumption that all units retire after 50 years of operation – a longer operating life would mean larger excess emissions.”

Cumulatively, the excess emissions from Eskom’s proposed non-compliance would cause a projected 13 000kg of excess mercury deposition locally in South Africa.

Myllyvirta worries Eskom will be allowed to postpone compliance, again.

“What really startles me are the time scales. The government is… not saying we’ll give them another five years and re-evaluate this. It’s going to give them carte blanche for decades without basic emissions controls.

“Europe revises its emissions regulations every 10 years, the US as well. China keeps coming up with new standards every five years.

“Now you’re saying you’re not going to require them to do anything for the next 20, 30 years? I don’t see parallels in any part of the world.”