Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, South Africa\u2019s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, is evaluating the use of carbon capture at power plants as part of decarbonization plans to transform the coal-burning utility.<\/p>\n
The process that captures carbon dioxide emissions would need to be financially viable, chief executive officer Andre de Ruyter said in an interview on radio station 702 on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need large geological structures to ensure that the CO2 is captured and stored safely so it cannot escape,\u201d De Ruyter said. Transportation of the emissions is also complex and costly, he said.<\/p>\n
State-owned Eskom generates most of South Africa\u2019s electricity from coal. The utility, which reported a fourth straight annual loss earlier this week and is struggling to deal with a mountain of debt, is turning to renewable energy to lower emissions and potentially receive better financing terms.<\/p>\n
That shift will also affect the nation\u2019s coal mines and the communities that surround them.<\/p>\n
Manufacturing renewable-energy components would be part of a strategy to create about 300,000 jobs, De Ruyter said in the interview, citing studies by a national business initiative.<\/p>\n
Eskom\u2019s biggest labour group, the National Union of Mineworkers, is sceptical of the estimate. \u201cWe don\u2019t believe that,\u201d said Khangela Baloyi, energy sector coordinator for the union, in a response to questions.<\/p>\n
De Ruyter\u2019s estimate of jobs in the renewable industry would, if realized, make it bigger than South Africa\u2019s platinum and gold mining industries, which combined employ almost 260,000 workers.<\/p>\n