Eskom’s Coal-powered Komati To Rise From Its Ashes; Start Producing Renewable Energy

Eskom’s plan to convert old power stations to renewable energy — and the billions it needs.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially announced that Eskom would convert its Komati power plant to generate energy from renewable sources.

“Eskom will be undertaking a pilot project at its Komati power station, which is due to shut down its last coal-fired unit next year, to produce power through renewable energy,” Ramaphosa said in his newsletter to South Africans on Monday.

Reuters reported in July that the site of the Komati power plant could be used as a solar-energy farm.

Ramaphosa said that the Komati project would be a good example of how South Africa can move away from coal dependency.

He also discussed the potential economic risks the country could face if it fails to achieve this goal.

“South Africa’s trading partners are likely to increase restrictions on the import of goods produced using carbon-intensive energy and we are likely to face trade barriers to the products that we export,” the President said.

“We will also pursue ‘green’ industrialisation, such as manufacturing using green technology and a shift to the production of electric vehicles.”

Emphasising the risks of climate change, the President also outlined government’s plans to move towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

South Africa’s electricity sector contributes 41% of South Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions and will be the first phase of the transition.

“It will be the quickest industry to decarbonise and will have a beneficial impact across the economy,” he said.

Eskom said it would need R149bn to shut down most of its coal-fired plants by 2050.

Andre de Ruyter, CEO at Eskom, created a funding plan involving a multi-lender loan facility from development finance institutions that would be paid out in segments over several years to obtain the required funds.

The power utility’s head of Just Energy Transition, Mandy Rambharos, indicated that the decommissioned power plants might be re-purposed, and the sites used to produce power from renewable energy or natural gas.

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