Eskom says it has developed an emergency preparedness plan to respond to arising incidents, related to So2 emissions.
This is after various environmental activists such as the Center for Environmental Rights, and others, expressed concern about the postponement of minimum emission standards, to release suphur dioxide (So2) at its Kusile Power Station.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s National Air Quality Officer, issued an updated Atmospheric Emission Licence (AEL) back in June 2023.
The AEL allows Eskom to release So2 emissions without a license, at its Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) plant units 1, 2 and 3. The facility has emission – abatement technology for So2.
The Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), singled out Eskom as the world’s most polluting company.
It is not puffery. A study conducted by the CREA, found emissions released by the power utility contribute to high levels of ambient air pollution and related deaths of an estimated 2,200 deaths annually. This is according to a study by air pollution expert Mike Holland (article written by Lauri Myllyvirta).
Bheki Nxumalo, Group Executive for Generation, at Eskom, said “we have diligently adhered to the conditions of the MES postponement and the Atmospheric Emission Licence and are pleased to report that emissions from the three units, remain below our atmospheric emission licence and ambient air quality limits.”
He also said robust screening health initiatives were implemented in surrounding areas.
” We have installed addition ambient quality monitoring equipment to specifically monitor So2 emissions.”
Picture: Child with asthma,Global Asthma Report 2022.