Eskom has embarked on unprecedented stage 2 load shedding on Sunday after a silo storing coal at its Majuba power station in Mpumalanga collapsed. Stage 2 load shedding requires users to reduce electricity demand by 2000MW. Eskom’s total capacity is around 43 000MW. It is most unusual to have load shedding on a Sunday and the extent of the load reduction is even more … [Read more...]
Stop Eskom’s mega pollution application!
Right now Eskom is attempting to bypass pollution laws designed to protect our health. At some coal plants, Eskom is hoping to pump out eight times more pollution than the legal limit. Eskom says complying with the law would cost them too much, and that its coal plants don't affect human health – a claim that even Eskom's own research has rubbished. Findings show that … [Read more...]
Eskom and Sasol use us as pollution filters
How much is a human life worth? How much is our future and that of our children worth? Well, the answer to both is “not too much,” if Eskom and Sasol’s pollution-friendly tactics are anything to go by. Allow me to explain. On paper, South Africa has some pretty decent environmental legislation intended to protect the quality of our air and environment, in the form of the … [Read more...]
Painting a colourful picture of our energy future
The discussion around the future of Eskom has reached a new high with the parastatal reporting on its dire situation culminating in a R225bn shortfall. Many articles published in the past week laid out arguments as to what Eskom should do next. As a young South African I believe someone should share a youth perspective on this subject. It is interesting to read that many of … [Read more...]
Six myths about renewable energy busted
The evidence is in: Renewable energy is viable, reliable, and ready to go – all that’s missing is the political will to kick start an energy revolution in South Africa. On this page Greenpeace has grouped some of the most common myths about renewable energy, explaining why they are just that – myths that don’t stand up to reality. But here’s the thing, although they’ve … [Read more...]
No air pollution increases allowed for Kriel Power Station
Earthlife Africa Johannesburg (ELA), groundWork and the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) welcome the decision of Nkangala District Municipality (NDM) largely to refuse Eskom’s request to relax its atmospheric emission license for its Kriel Power Station in Mpumalanga. Eskom applied to amend the license in November 2013, notwithstanding that the MEC for the Mpumalanga … [Read more...]
Editor’s note: Ditch the fossils?
If there is one time when this nation speaks with one voice it’s when we experience power cuts. We seem unified in our addiction to fossil fuels. Suddenly the complaints roll in from business, domestic, rich and poor alike. We can’t cook, we can’t run our factories, the aeroplanes are delayed. Chaos ensues. Of course we need power. We are dependent on Uncle Eskom and if he … [Read more...]
Our precarious power supply: prepare for the worst
Our electricity supply is becoming more and more precarious. Eskom should be able to supply 42 GW of electricity but on a regular basis it can only supply only around 30 GW. The grid infrastructure is overloaded which puts a large burden on transformers which are reaching end of life in half of their usual life, ie 12 years life instead of 25 years life. Our grid itself is … [Read more...]
Eskom embarks on first load shedding in 6 years
Electricity was cut across large parts of South Africa, including the country’s economic centre, Johannesburg, on Thursday as state power utility Eskom cut power supply for the first time since April 2008, Eskom’s media desk confirmed. South Africa has been on tight power supply since load shedding in 2008 cost the economy billions as demand outstripped supply. Eskom had not … [Read more...]
Let’s take away Eskom’s license to pollute
Right now Eskom is seeking long-term postponements from complying with pollution standards designed to protect our health. They say complying with the standards would cost them too much, and that its coal plants don't affect human health – a claim that has been completely rubbished by recent research. Eskom is applying for long-term postponements for two-thirds of its … [Read more...]
SAPIA raises concern about low power demand projections
According to the South Africa Independent Power Producers Association (Sapia), due caution should be exercised when pursuing a reduced energy intensity in an economy that requires further industrialisation and beneficiation, in parallel with increased investment in the knowledge and service aspects of a more developed economy. It says South Africa would do a terrible … [Read more...]
Ilegal mine accused of polluting irrigation water
A Gupta-linked colliery has been accused of polluting the Olifants River, a vital source of water for food crop irrigation on farms around Delmas. The modern story of Mpumalanga is of the war between farming and mining. Its rich soil, crisscrossed by streams and rivers, is one of South Africa's breadbaskets. Exports from here go around the world. But beneath the green … [Read more...]
Nuclear power plan off until 2025?
The decision to build nuclear power plants in South Africa can be delayed, says the Department of Energy, as revised projections of electricity demand show that new nuclear power will not be required until after 2025 or even later. It also suggests that if the cost of nuclear power is too high, other options such as regional hydro and shale gas could fulfil the requirement … [Read more...]
