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Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says South Africa will look to expand the life-span of its existing coal fleet despite international pressures to decarbonise.
In October last year, the coal-fired Komati power station in Mpumalanga was shut down, which was seen as a major step in South Africa’s just energy transition.
Many of Eskom’s coal power stations are reaching their end-of-life, and the country’s Integrated Resource Plan 2019 envisions many of these stations being decommissioned over time. The IRP is currently being reviewed, and the tone on decommissioning these plants has shifted, however.
According to Eskom and the various energy departments, South Africa will be looking to delay decommissioning these plants as the country continues to fight its electricity crisis and load shedding.
So far, only Komati has started its shutdown process – and even then, it has not yet been fully decommissioned.
Responding in a parliamentary Q&A this week, Ramokgopa said that the intention at Komati is to construct solar PV, wind and battery storage, with other repurposing options being considered.
The minister stressed that the plant has not been decommissioned as it still needs approval from the energy regulator, NERSA and the PFMA, with only the plant being shut down.
However, despite the environmental impact of coal use and the general failure of Eskom to get its fleet to produce enough to meet demand – hence load shedding – the minister said that no other coal-fired power stations are set to be shut down.
“Currently, Eskom does not intend to shut down any more stations and replace them with renewables. Eskom does, however, intend to install renewable capacity at current sites while they are still operational,” the minister said.
He added that Eskom is currently studying the feasibility of continuing to operate older coal-fired stations, with the potential for Komati to also be returned to service.
“Work is continuing to investigate the cost-benefit of the extension of life and or the repurposing of the existing fleet,” he said.
“If it is feasible to continue to use the flue stacks, cooling towers or any other infrastructure for other new technologies that might feasibly be constructed at the Komati site, the repurposing and repowering will take that into account.”
Global pressure
Despite the global push for renewable energy over climate concerns, the minister said that coal, alongside gas, nuclear and renewable technologies, will continue to feature in South Africa’s energy mix.
“Our National Socio-economic and Energy security requirements will dictate our investment choices and the funding thereof,” he said.
The minister’s words add further fuel to the flame over the $8.5 billion climate-fiance deal that several wealthy nations, including the US, UK, and Germany, are offering South Africa.
A 2022 investment plan shows that South Africa would spend 90% of the funds on decommissioning its coal-fired plants in favour of renewables, with the rest going to green-hydrogen and electric-vehicle industries.
However, Ramokgopa has downplayed the impact of the finance deal, saying that South Africa has not entered into any agreements.
He said that it is up to the government to decide whether it wants to meet the conditions set in terms of the deal to get access to the funds or try to raise funding on commercial terms.
“Notwithstanding the conditions attached to climate change funding, South Africa has not formally entered into any agreements.
“It is up to the lender to decide whether it is in its overall interest to comply with the conditions to access the concessionary aspects or to attempt to raise loans on commercial terms.”
Read: Warning for diesel prices in South Africa
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