By Simnikiwe Hlatshaneni
Johannesburg. Now that the age of load shedding is “largely behind” South Africa due to structural improvements in its generation fleet, Eskom is shifting focus toward environmental performance and long-term sustainability. The utility reaffirmed its commitment to reducing its environmental footprint while ensuring ongoing energy security, highlighting a broader strategy to address South Africa’s “energy trilemma” of protection, affordability, and sustainability.
Eskom’s environmental responsibility is not new. Since the 1980s, it has pursued phased emissions reductions, achieving an over 80% decline in Particulate Matter (PM) emissions by 2021. This progress was achieved through decades of upgrades, including plant decommissioning, improved filtration, and electrostatic precipitators. Reductions in Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) were driven by innovations such as low-NOx boilers at Kendal and Matimba, retrofits at Camden, and modern combustion systems at Medupi and Kusile. The Kusile plant is already using flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) to lower Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂) emissions, and Medupi is preparing for similar retrofits.
Despite these advances, financial challenges persist. Eskom has spent R3 billion on emissions reduction to date and plans to allocate an additional R15.6 billion over the next five years. In April 2025, JSE-listed coal and energy group Exxaro Resources announced it would collaborate with Eskom on research initiatives and projects to reduce carbon emissions and cut air pollution.Both companies, which are targeting net-zero emissions by 2050, formalised their collaboration through a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
Meeting full compliance with Minimum Emission Standards (MES) by 2030 will require capital investment of approximately R257 billion and annual operating costs of around R6.3 billion, potentially increasing electricity tariffs by up to 10%, the state company says. Without this investment, nearly 22GW of capacity may need to be decommissioned post-2030 due to SO₂ violations.
Environmental efforts now extend beyond plant upgrades. In Mpumalanga, Eskom is piloting the Masibambisane Air Quality Offset Project, helping low-income households shift from coal and wood to cleaner energy sources like electricity and LPG. The goal is to improve indoor air quality and reduce respiratory illnesses linked to smoke exposure. Eskom also manages South Africa’s largest ambient air quality monitoring network, with 22 stations nationwide. While SOx and NOx levels in Mpumalanga currently meet national standards, Particulate Matter levels remain above target due to various external contributors, including veld fires, mining dust, and household fuel use.
Bheki Nxumalo, Group Executive for Generation, emphasized Eskom’s accountability:
“We are committed to meeting environmental regulations through continuous monitoring, transparent reporting, and proactive plant upgrades.”
Still, the utility acknowledges that environmental performance has declined over the past five years, including increases in particulate emissions, higher water usage, and more frequent environmental incidents. These setbacks have largely been attributed to the broader energy crisis and infrastructure strain.
Looking ahead, Eskom’s sustainability roadmap includes measures beyond emissions control. These range from water conservation and biodiversity protection to waste management and grid modernization for better renewable energy integration. The utility has set a goal to reduce fleet-wide emissions by 40% by 2030, aligning with the Highveld Priority Area Plan and the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). It sees this as part of its broader role in supporting a Just Transition toward a low-carbon, inclusive economy.
To support this shift, Eskom is focusing on three pillars:
- Managing environmental resources responsibly
- Empowering affected communities
- Building long-term resilience in the energy sector
This holistic approach reflects a commitment to sustainability that extends beyond regulation, aiming instead to balance ecological integrity with national development goals.
