Eskom’s time is running out

Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Minister Dion George has made it clear that the government will not give Eskom free rein to continue polluting, saying that the power utility must reform or face the consequences.

The minister will announce his department’s response to Eskom’s application for exemptions from minimum emission standards on Monday (31 March 2025), but issued a warning ahead of the announcement.

George said Eskom has consistently failed to meet minimum emission standards and has delayed critical energy reforms, which has resulted in South Africa remaining trapped in a “persistent cycle of energy insecurity and environmental degradation that harms public health”.

“South Africans have had to endure rolling blackouts, rising costs, and economic stagnation as a result of Eskom’s inefficiencies,” he said.

“The government cannot grant Eskom a blanket waiver to continue polluting without accountability.”

The minister said the government will not grant Eskom unchecked permission to pollute and insisted that Eskom must accelerate its reform process and support the nation’s energy transition.

The only way this can be done, he said, is by unbundling Eskom and breaking its monopoly on South Africa’s electricity landscape.

“Eskom’s monopoly over electricity generation and transmission has stifled competition, slowed the adoption of renewable energy, and left South Africa exposed to energy insecurity,” he said.

“The only viable path forward is to unbundle Eskom without further delay.”

George noted that while the new National Transmission Company is making headway, the Transmission System Operator needs to be fully independent to ensure fair grid access/

Without this step, reliance on outdated coal plants will persist, he warned.

He added that the transition to renewable energy is non-negotiable, and stressed that South Africa’s economic future depends on more renewable energy entering the grid, not less.

“(Depending on) Eskom’s ageing coal fleet increases costs and undermines competitiveness. The world is moving toward cleaner energy, and South Africa cannot afford to be left behind.”

George also directed Eskom to decommission its worst-performing power stations responsibly.

“Those that fail to meet environmental standards and contribute disproportionately to pollution must be retired in a structured and responsible manner, without leaving anyone behind,” he said.

A study by the South African Medical Research Council showed that air pollution in South Africa boosts the annual number of deaths by 6% in communities living near coal-fired power plants.

Previous studies have modelled the annual number of deaths caused by pollution fromEskom at more than 2,000.

Eskom’s own research puts the toll at 330.

“South Africa cannot remain hostage to outdated infrastructure and poor governance at the expense of its future.”

The minister said that Eskom must either comply with emissions regulations and accelerate its transition, or it will face the consequences.

“The time for endless delays and excuses is over,” he said.