• Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, has harsh words for Eskom’s request to be exempt from emission regulations.
• The minister was frank in his statement saying Eskom cannot be given free-reign to pollute in service of keeping the lights on.
• A decision regarding the application will be announced on Monday.

South Africans are well aware that Eskom depends on coal-fired power stations to keep the lights on. Thanks to this dependence, Eskom is considered one of the biggest carbon emission emitters in the country alongside Sasol.

As we mentioned when the Climate Change Act came into effect this month we pointed out the contradiction that the legislation sought to drive investment into more sustainable energy sources while also Eskom enjoys an exemption on its emissions.

In December 2024 the utility applied for a further minimum emission standards exemptions at its Duvha, Kendal, Lethabo, Majuba, Matimba, Matla, Medupi and Tutuka power stations. This after Eskom was granted exemptions in 2023 following the collapse of flue-gas desulphurisation units at Kusile Power Station. It must be noted that this exemption was granted mainly because of rampant loadshedding and failing to grant the exemption would have likely lead to even more power cuts.

But Dion George, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, has drawn a hard line on the most recent application for exemptions. The minister is set to announce his decision as regards these exemptions on Monday 31st March but a statement released Wednesday gives us a peak at what that decision may entail.

“South Africans have had to endure rolling blackouts, rising costs, and economic stagnation as a result of Eskom’s inefficiencies,” he stated. “The government cannot grant Eskom a blanket waiver to continue polluting without accountability.”

The minister notes, as we have in the past, that addressing one crisis by causing another is not good enough and Eskom needs to embrace reformation. This means unbundling Eskom as a matter of urgency and shifting toward using renewable energy more often.

“The transition to renewable energy is not negotiable,” said George. “South Africa’s economic future depends on more renewable energy entering the grid, not less.”

He went on to say that ultimately our reliance on coal-fired power stations will only serve to kneecap us as a nation as the aging power stations suck up funds and undermine our energy sector.

The minister was frank in saying that if Eskom continues to fight minimum emission standards it will face the consequences which translates into paying carbon tax which would likely cause inordinate cashflow problems for the company.

“We are committed to ensuring that South Africa has a future-proof energy sector. The time for endless delays and excuses is over,” the minister concluded.

[Image – Mike Marrah on Unsplash]