South Africa Backs Coal Over Clean Air To Avoid Blackouts

The Lethabo, Kendal, Tutuka, Majuba, Matimba and Medupi power stations have been given a five-year exemption, while Duvha and Matla were given extension until 2034, environment minister Dion George said at a briefing in Cape Town. Five other plants run by Eskom, South Africas biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, were granted exemption until 2030 in June.

South Africa relies on coal for more than 80 of electricity generation. The exemption will help Eskom spend on running its plants for longer in a country that's suffered from rotational blackouts for decades. Eskom's plan to stabilise supply relies on extending the decommissioning dates of some coal stations.

South Africa must roll out renewable energy plants "with urgency" along with other measures to accelerate transition, George said, adding that Eskom wanted longer extensions. "I did not give them what they wanted."

Eskom's plan to transition to cleaner sources of energy has hit multiple delays, from grid constraints to court battles that slowed a programme to build renewable plants.