Introduction
Eskom is controlled by various independent regulators including the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) and the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry as well as the Chief Air Pollution Control Officer (Capco) from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT). These independent regulators protect the public interest and regulate Eskom’s activities to ensure effective environmental protection. This is achieved, among others, through the issuing of authorisations for construction, permits and licences for particulate emission releases and water usage.
South Africa is a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its implementing mechanism, the Kyoto Protocol. As a developing country, there are no binding obligations as yet for South Africa to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, there is increasing in-country commitment for development to be carried out in a sustainable manner that will result in benefit to the economy, society and the environment and that is compatible with actions required to combat climate change. It is important that South Africa actively contributes to global efforts to combat climate change while ensuring the sustainability of the economy and society.
Currently, South Africa is reliant on coal to generate the bulk of its electricity. Coal resources in South Africa are abundant, and Eskom’s coal-fired power stations are designed to burn low-grade coal which may not otherwise be used, allowing the provision of low-cost electricity. The use of coal is, however, not without environmental impacts, including the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). In addition, changes in the climate will almost certainly impact on Eskom’s operations, for example in the area of water access. We concur with the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) view that climate change is real and largely due to human activities. This why we are continually investigating and implementing appropriate technologies to reduce GHG emissions while maintaining our cost competitiveness in terms of electricity production, which we see as vitally important for a developing economy.
Climate change is, therefore, of great to concern to Eskom and as a result, we have been active in climate change discussions since the early 1990s and have a living climate change strategy. Eskom also has a permanent seat on the National Committee for Climate Change (NCCC) and attends the international climate change negotiations as a member of the official government delegation.
Limiting the Impact on the Environment
Environmental performance is managed as an integral part of our
governance structure, from the board sustainability committee, to
the executive management committee (Exco) sustainability and
safety subcommittee. Accountable environmental managers and
environmental practitioners ensure the effective implementation
of environmental management systems throughout our business.
The current focus on securing continuity of supply, executing the
build programme and responding to climate change provides us
with environmental opportunities. These include introduction of
renewable technologies, expansion of our nuclear programme,
identification and implementation of internal energy-efficiency
projects, further expansion of water conservation programmes,
and conservation of land as a biodiversity offset.
Through this commitment, our objective is to ensure continual
improvement in our environmental performance by setting
environmental performance indicators and management systems
and ensuring the use of balanced criteria in our decision-making
processes. These commitments are set out in our safety, health
and environment policy.
Our environmental commitment continues to be based on the
efficient use of natural resources while controlling our activities
that impact on the environment.
Performance
Environmental performance is co-ordinated at an organisational
level and an overall picture of environmental performance is
maintained.
Divisions and subsidiaries in Eskom report on environmental performance issues to the environmental liaison committee (ELC) which in turn reports on Eskom's environmental performance to the Exco operations subcommittee, the Exco sustainability and safety subcommittee and the board sustainability committee. Environmental performance forms a part of existing business management reporting and components of our operational health dashboard.
We continue to measure our performance against a number of
environmental parameters. Four of the most significant of these
are linked to targets set annually in the Eskom business plan.
Alarms and standards are set and measured against these four
measures as part of the operational health dashboard. |
