By Zuko Komisa
Eskom is now permitted to exceed the Kusile emission restrictions to decrease load shedding.
In an effort to ease South Africa’s severe electricity crisis, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Barbara Creecy has granted Eskom permission to surpass sulphur dioxide emission limits at the Kusile power plant.
Creecy exempted Eskom from amending its atmospheric emission license to incorporate these extra emissions from the Kusile on Tuesday, subject to a number of strict conditions.
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News24 reports that the short-term fix will enable the restart of 2 100 MW of generation capacity, reducing the country’s exposure to load shedding by two levels, according to Creecy.
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Creecy stated that she was conscious of the load shedding’s well-established socioeconomic effects, which have had significant socioeconomic repercussions for all South Africans.
“I am equally aware of the health and associated impacts of exposure to sulphur dioxide emissions, particularly on communities in close proximity to coal-fired power stations,” the minister said. “In the light of the competing factors, I have been called on to make an extraordinarily difficult decision.”
The once-off postponement will be valid until March 31, 2025.
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