Coal-based energy plants major pollutants in South Africa, say activists

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) – As more than 100 countries pledged to bring down emissions at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference or COP26, in the Scottish capital of Glasgow, activists in South Africa have urged the government to halt plans to develop coal-based power plants.

The country produces 80% of its electricity by burning coal.

“The burning of coal for electricity releases several harmful pollutants into the air and these give rise to several devastating consequences for human health,’’ Nicole Loser, an attorney and head of the pollution and climate change program at the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) told Anadolu Agency.

She said that coal-powered electricity is the biggest contributor to South Africa’s green gas emissions.

Quoting a 2016 report by British-based air quality and health expert Mike Holland, Loser said the air pollution caused by coal-fired power stations is killing more than 2,200 people every year in the country.

She says besides deaths, air pollution also contributes to several diseases and health consequences that impact early childhood development, people’s ability to work or go to school.

“From a health perspective burning coal for electricity is severely problematic and we also know that coal mining and coal power has an impact on South Africa’s water resources which it contaminates,” she said.

A report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) – an independent research organization – claimed that South Africa’s power utility Eskom was the world's most polluting power company, even worse than those in the European countries, China, and the US.

Maintaining that the company was aware of its obligations, Eskom Spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha told local media that they are planning to attain net-zero emission status by 2050.

- Transition underway

He said Eskom has embarked on a program of transition that includes retiring coal-fired power stations to moving to renewable energy.

“Essentially it is in government’s interests and it is aligned with its obligation to protect the constitutional rights of people of South Africa to transition away from coal particularly because we have clean alternatives that are available,” Loser said.

She adds that cleaner alternatives are not only feasible but they are also more affordable and much cheaper than developing new coal power plants.

Acknowledging that air pollution remains a challenge, President Cyril Ramaphosa in his weekly online column published on Tuesday, said his government was committed to making a fair contribution to the global effort to reverse climate change.

He said his government has recently marked new and more ambitious greenhouse gas emissions targets.

“Air pollution remains a major concern for several vulnerable communities, particularly those near areas of industrial activity. We have improved air quality management over the years, putting norms and standards in place to regulate, manage and control air quality,” he said.

Ramaphosa said recent amendments to electricity regulations that allow municipalities to buy and generate their power are expected to lead to a greater uptake of renewable energy technologies over time.

The president also said beyond energy considerations, his government is also working to advance the constitutional right of citizens to a clean and healthy environment.