This article has been updated to include comment from Eskom.
Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George has warned that Eskom will face consequences if it continues to flout emissions regulations and delay energy reforms, declaring: “The time for endless delays and excuses is over.”
George announced this week that he will deliver his decision on Eskom’s application for exemptions from the minimum emission standards (MES) on Monday, March 31.
“South Africa cannot remain trapped in an ongoing cycle of energy insecurity and environmental degradation that harms public health. South Africans have endured rolling blackouts, rising costs and economic stagnation due to Eskom’s inefficiencies. The government cannot grant Eskom a blanket waiver to continue polluting without accountability,” he said.
George also stressed the urgency of Eskom accelerating its reform process to support South Africa’s energy transition. “Eskom’s monopoly over electricity generation and transmission has stifled competition, slowed the adoption of renewable energy and left South Africa exposed to energy insecurity,” he said.
The only viable path forward is to unbundle Eskom without further delay, he said. George called for the transmission system operator to be fully independent to ensure fair grid access, warning that reliance on outdated coal plants would persist without this step.
The transition to renewable energy is “not negotiable”, he said. “South Africa’s economic future depends on more renewable energy entering the grid – not less.” Continued dependence on Eskom’s ageing coal-fired power stations drives costs and undermines the nation’s global competitiveness, George said.
He directed Eskom to decommission its worst-performing power stations responsibly. “Those that fail to meet environmental standards and contribute disproportionately to pollution must be retired in a structured and responsible manner without leaving anyone behind,” George said. He warned that South Africa could no longer remain hostage to outdated infrastructure and poor governance at the expense of its future.
George made it clear that inaction would not be tolerated. “Eskom must either comply with emissions regulations and accelerate its transition or it will face the consequences,” he said. “We are committed to ensuring that South Africa has a future-proof energy sector. The time for endless delays and excuses is over.”
Will George stand firm?
The public is looking to George to stand firm and reject Eskom’s exemption request, said Robyn Hugo, Director of Climate Change Engagement at Just Share.
“Although government previously confirmed that MES exemptions were not legally permissible, in May last year – following Eskom’s appeal – then Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy invited Eskom to apply for exemptions for four coal-fired power stations: Matla, Duvha, Tutuka and Kendal. Eskom went further, seeking exemptions for an additional four stations: Lethabo, Majuba, Matimba and Medupi,” Hugo said.
When asked to comment on the Minister’s statements, Eskom confirmed this timeline to Energize. The utility added: “Eskom cannot predict the Minister of DFFE’s decision and can only provide comments once the decision has been made public.”
Creecy also granted MES compliance suspensions for five other stations – Camden, Hendrina, Arnot, Grootvlei and Kriel – until 2030, says Hugo. “For the remainder of their operational lives, Camden, Hendrina, Arnot, Grootvlei and Kriel are free to disregard air pollution laws intended to regulate them – laws that are already far weaker than those enforced in many other developing countries, including India and China.”
Creecy explained at the time that her decision was aimed at balancing competing priorities – the health and environmental risks of non-compliance, the severity of the energy crisis and the financial burden of upgrading Eskom’s plants to meet emissions standards.
Hugo remains sceptical that George will take a different approach. “Shortly after his appointment, he made it clear that he was not opposed to the exemptions granted by Creecy. Polluters have successfully exploited the ‘balancing act’ argument to evade legal accountability while the country’s most vulnerable communities – already bearing the brunt of South Africa’s dependence on fossil fuels – continue to be underserved and overlooked.”
