Eskom’s Coal-Fired Plants Accused of Operating Some of the World’s Worst Emission Sites for Toxic Gases

The Major Air Polluters in Africa report, released in collaboration with the Centre For Research on Energy and Clean Air, has accused Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., South Africa’s state power company, of operating some of the world’s worst emission sites for toxic nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. According to the report, 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.

In response to these findings, Eskom stated that the emissions were based on satellite interpretation of high levels of nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere. However, they maintain that at ground level, their plants mostly comply with South African nitrogen-dioxide emission levels, with any non-compliance being attributed to nearby vehicle traffic and other industrial sources.

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. Eskom noted that 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, equipment at Kusile is currently bypassed due to an accident.