Lethabo power station
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Lethabo power station is an operating power station of at least 3708-megawatts (MW) in Viljoensdrif, Fezile Dabi, Free State, South Africa.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Lethabo power station | Viljoensdrif, Fezile Dabi, Free State, South Africa | -26.742032, 27.976892 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6: -26.742032, 27.976892
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | operating | coal: bituminous | 618 | subcritical | 1985 | 2036 (planned) |
| Unit 2 | operating | coal: bituminous | 618 | subcritical | 1986 | 2037 (planned) |
| Unit 3 | operating | coal: bituminous | 618 | subcritical | 1987 | 2037 (planned) |
| Unit 4 | operating | coal: bituminous | 618 | subcritical | 1987 | 2038 (planned) |
| Unit 5 | operating | coal: bituminous | 618 | subcritical | 1989 | 2040 (planned) |
| Unit 6 | operating | coal: bituminous | 618 | subcritical | 1990 | 2041 (planned) |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100%] | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100%] | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 3 | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100%] | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 4 | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100%] | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 5 | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100%] | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 6 | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100%] | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100.0%] |
Background
The power station has an installed capacity of 3,708 megawatts (MW) comprising 6 X 618 MW units.[1]
In October 2021, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment denied Eskom's request for environmental compliance postponement for the power station.[2] Eskom appealed the decision and claimed that, if implemented, it "would have a significant negative impact on the economy and employment … and delay the country’s plans for an energy transition to a cleaner energy supply.”[3]
According to South Africa's 2019 Integrated Resource Plan, the plant's 50-year Life Decommissioning is projected for 2035-2040.[4] In April 2020, Eskom listed the unit retirement dates between 2036 and 2041.[5]
In their 2021 Integrated Report, Eskom discussed emissions reduction projects: "At Lethabo, a high-frequency power supply (HFPS) was installed on Unit 3. HFPS will be installed on other units, with the next one planned for the second half of the coming year [2022]. The commercial process for the... refurbishment of the SO3 flue gas conditioning plant is ongoing". This plant reported 65 NOx exceedances in one year, along with issues with coal quality. The report also states that three of the six units were actively operating in non-compliance with average monthly emissions limits.[6]
In June 2022, at least 50 Lethabo power station employees staged a strike outside of the power station, wielding signs that read: "we demand open and honest consultation by Eskom". According to one anonymous worker, salaries had been slashed and transportation and overtime payments were revoked. Similar actions were taking place at several other Eskom plants.[7]
In February 2023, South Africa's grid was faced with Stage 6 load shedding, massively restricting power supplies "until further notice". Breakdowns occurred at five coal-fired power stations: Arnot power station, Camden power station, Hendrina power station, Lethabo power station and Majuba power station. The breakdowns meant Eskom had 21,243 MW of unplanned outages at its plants, with a further 3,566 MW unavailable due to scheduled maintenance. Conditions were expected to worsen through the end of the month.[8]
In September 2023, Eskom again increased load shedding to Stage 6, equal to 6,000 MW, after breakdowns of coal units at Lethabo and Matla power station. Eskom said 16,210 MW of generating capacity had broken down, and a further 5,894 MW was offline for planned maintenance.[9]
In October 2023, Eskom's Just Energy Transition General Manager said the company was planning to put out a request for proposals for a 75 MW solar plant at the Lethabo power station.[10] Eskom launched a tender for the solar project in April 2024.[11]
Possible delay in retirement
In May 2023, it was reported that the government was considering delaying planned decommissioning of coal-fired power stations to help alleviate the energy crisis. While the government had confirmed that planned retirements of some of its older and smaller plants would slow down,[12] other reports indicated that some of the larger plants, including Lethabo, were also being considered for delayed retirement.[13]
Energy analysts have reportedly warned that extending the life of aging coal plants in South Africa was likely to jeopardize access to the US$8.5 billion Just Energy Transition funding aimed at accelerating renewable energy projects in the country.[14] Standard Chartered, one of the largest lenders in Africa, also warned that government plans to extend the life of Eskom's coal plants would make attracting investment to South Africa harder, as investors would be wary of being trapped in stranded fossil fuel assets.[15]
Sabotage investigation
In late 2021, an electricity tower that powered the coal conveyor belt at the Lethabo facility collapsed. The incident was investigated as a possible attempt at sabotage. Shortly afterwards, the Chief Executive Officer of Eskom – André de Ruyter – issued a statement saying that there was evidence of sabotage at the plant:[16]
- “The stays that were cut are galvanised steel rods, 24mm in diameter, so these are very sturdy rods,” De Ruyter stated. “The perpetrators of this cut all eight stays. There is no sign of corrosion, no sign of metal fatigue, there was no shearing of the stays.” De Ruyter admitted that Eskom was battling more than just system failures, including “deliberate internal and external forces that understood its systems enough to bring the utility to its knees”.[17]
Environmental impact
In November 2020, the South African Department of Environment Forestry and Fisheries revealed that in May 2020, the agency issued an enforcement action over excessive particulate matter emissions from the Lethabo power station and expressed concern that the station's use of unlined coal ash and wastewater dams was contributing to groundwater pollution.[18][19]
According to a March 2024 report on air pollution in Africa by Greenpeace, Lethabo power station was among Africa's ten largest point sources of nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution from May 2018 to November 2021. Eight other Eskom coal plants were included in the top ten NOx emissions hotspots in Africa for that period. Lethabo power station was also among the top ten sulfur dioxide (SO2) emitters in Africa in 2022, along with five other Eskom coal plants. The report noted that government data on emissions in Africa is patchy, so the authors relied on satellite measurements.[20]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ "Generations Plant Mix Revision 8," Eskom, May 2008
- ↑ “Eskom to engage on way forward after being denied permission to delay air-quality compliance,” Engineering News, December 14, 2021
- ↑ "'No risk of power outages' as Eskom can appeal emission extension refusals," Times Live, December 15, 2021
- ↑ "Integrated Resource Plan (IRP2019)," South Africa, October 2019 (figure 26)
- ↑ "Response of Eskom to CER, Reference number: PAIA 0087 MAN," CER website, April 28, 2020
- ↑ "2021 Integrated Report," Eskom, October 2021
- ↑ "'No signed agreement, no end to strike' — Eskom workers at Lethabo power station," Sowetan Live, June 29, 2022
- ↑ "Eskom implements Stage 6 load shedding with the possibility of higher stages increase," IOL, February 19, 2023
- ↑ "Stage 6 loadshedding will be implemented from 05:00 on Tuesday until further notice," Eskom, September 4, 2023
- ↑ "Eskom to extend deadline for decommissioning stations," Engineering News, October 5, 2023
- ↑ "Eskom launches tender to build 75 MW solar project at coal plant," PV Magazine, April 18, 2024
- ↑ "Ramaphosa confirms SA will slow down its decommissioning of coal-fired power plants," IOL, May 11, 2023
- ↑ "South Africa weighs extending lives of larger coal power plants," Engineering News, May 24, 2023
- ↑ "Eskom chair Mpho Makwana says SA needs to decarbonise fast," News24, April 21, 2023
- ↑ "Standard Chartered Warns on Extending Use of Coal Plants in South Africa, Business Day Says," Bloomberg, May 14, 2023
- ↑ "Is South Africa’s Eskom the victim of hybrid warfare?," ESI Africa, December 10, 2021
- ↑ "Unsavoury side hustle: Eskom workers cause load shedding to increase overtime, bonuses – report," BizNews, November 29, 2021
- ↑ "Eskom ordered to rectify pollution issues at three power plants," Engineering News, November 13, 2020
- ↑ "National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report 2019-20," Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, 2020
- ↑ "Major Air Polluters in Africa Unmasked," Greenpeace Africa and Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa, March 2024
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
