Environmental groups take govt to court over decision allowing Eskom power stations emissions leeway

Two environmental non-profit organisations are taking government to court to challenge a decision allowing Eskom to operate eight power stations above the legally allowed pollution limits.

GroundWork Trust and Earthlife Africa want the Pretoria High Court to review and set aside contested decisions by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment and the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO).

These grant Eskom permission to suspend or postpone compliance with the minimum emissions standards (MES) at eight of its coal-fired plants.

Energy portfolio committee members against the decommissioning of coal power stations without a plan for surrounding communities

One of the main grounds in the applicants' founding affidavit is that Eskom has failed to provide 'clear and detailed decommissioning schedules' as required by law.

"Without these, the applicants argue, the Minister and NAQO would not be able to evaluate if sufficient precautions and have been taken, and if all risks and socio-economic impacts were adequately assessed."

Stephen Grootes interviews groundWork director Bobby Peek, who maintains that Eskom would actually save money if it complies with emissions regulations.

"If Eskom follows compliance and the air pollution laws that are democratic and that they negotiated in 2004 and in 2010, we'll be able to save South Africa $41.7 billion over the life of the power stations because of avoiding debts due to the air pollution."

"Eskom says if we had to follow the standard there's going to be loadshedding and an economic cost to society, but we don't have the evidence for that. We haven't seen the figures."

"Research shows that if they're in compliance, we'lll save our economy and we'll save people's health."

Bobby Peek, Director - groundWork

To hear more from Peek, listen to the interview audio at the top of the article