Unpacking Eskom’s controversial new direction for SA’s coal-fired power stations

Graeme Raubenheimer (in for CapeTalk's John Maytham) speaks to environmental journalist Ethan Van Diemen.

Listen below:

Departing from its original Just Energy Transition (JET) commitments, Eskom is now exploring plans to repurpose ageing coal plants to run on gas, nuclear, or even so-called 'clean coal' technology.  

So are there any deadlines in place yet for these plans?

Van Diemen says the Department of Electricity and Energy is hoping to have the feasibility studies completed in the next six months, but that's just the start of the process.

"When this would actually happen is another question altogether... they [Eskom] still have some of their licence and their emissions allowances going on until 2030 - so it won't be before the end of this decade."

- Ethan Van Diemen, Environmental Journalist 

South Africa is still the worst greenhouse gas emitter on the continent, something which the repurposing project is hoping to address.

Van Diemen says there is also quite a lot of discussion about the potential of nuclear energy in this process.

RELATED: 8 coal-fired Eskom power stations approved to continue operating outside pollution standards

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion.