The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), has set aside the Environmental Authorisation (EA) granted for Eskom’s proposed gas power plant in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal.
The court ruled that Eskom’s public participation process, failed to include isiZulu-speaking communities directly affected by the project.
This the court said, breached constitutional and statutory requirements for transparency, inclusivity, and fairness in environmental decision-making.
The proposed 3,000MW Combined Cycle Gas Power Plant (CCGPP), is in the uMhlathuze Local Municipality.
Alfred Seema, Eskom Group Executive for Strategy Delivery, said “the application was made because gas plays a critical role in South Africa’s energy future. It acts as a backbone for renewable energy integration due to its flexibility and fast-response capability. As more renewables come online, dispatchable generation is needed to offset their variability, ensuring energy security and sustaining the gains of the Generation Recovery Plan. At this stage, gas is the quickest and most cost-effective solution for backup and load-following.”
Seema argues gas is essential to maintain grid stability.
“While we consider the implications of this judgment, our focus remains to advance the gas strategy as the key enabler of energy security, economic growth, and the transition to cleaner energy.”
Picture: Natural Justice