Eskom’s Air Quality Offset (AQO) Project aimed at reducing emissions in households near its power stations is advancing in Mpumalanga.

More than 91% of targeted homes in Ezamokuhle have been upgraded. The next phases of the project will go to more communities across Mpumalanga including Phola, Thubelihle and Masakhane.

The AQO Project is reducing indoor air emissions and improving overall quality of life for low-income households. Through education programmes, insulation retrofits and providing clean energy sources such as electricity and liquefied petroleum gas, Eskom is transitioning these households away from coal and wood-burning fires.

This project aligns with the call by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment for emission reduction efforts in response to power-generation impacts.

“Our goal is to have a comprehensive approach to cleaner energy, which includes reducing harmful indoor emissions and creating a cleaner, healthier environment for communities living near our power stations. By working together, we are making strides towards a more sustainable future,” said Deidre Herbst, Eskom’s Senior Environmental Manager.

The success of the project in Ezamokuhle laid the foundation for future large-scale rollouts of similar interventions. Over 36 000 households across Mpumalanga have been identified to participate in the project.