Page 13 - AfrElec Week 40 2021

AfrElec POLLUTION AfrElec

South Africa’s Eskom now biggest

sulphur dioxide polluter

SOUTH AFRICA A new report found that South Africa’s power more sulphur dioxide than the entire power
utility Eskom is now the world’s biggest emitter sector of the EU and US, or the US and China,
of sulphur dioxide, pumping more of the chem- combined.”
ical into the atmosphere than the entire power Eskom’s 15 coal power plants, generating 44
sector of the US and China combined. GW, emitted 1,600 kilotonnes of sulphur diox-
Data analysis by independent research ide in its 2020-21 financial year, based on the
organisation the Centre for Research on Energy company’s Integrated Report.
and Clean Air (CREA), released on Tuesday, Back in 2015, the six economies with the
5 October, warned that state-owned Eskom highest power sector sulphur dioxide emissions
had to cut down on its pollution for the sake of were India, the US, China, Saudi Arabia, South
health in South Africa. Africa and the EU.
CREA said Eskom’s emissions contribute The US, EU and China have dramatically
to high levels of ambient air pollution and to reduced their emissions since. India is still the
air pollution-related deaths in South Africa, world’s largest polluter as a country.
responsible for approximately 2,200 deaths Other nations have retrofitted and closed
annually, according to a study by air pollution down coal-fired power stations to achieve lower
expert Mike Holland. emissions. China had retrofitted desulphur-
“Most of these deaths are due to sulphur isation equipment on its coal-fired power sta-
dioxide emissions, which form deadly particles tions to reduce its emissions. India as a country
once released into the air. As most other regions remains the largest polluter, and it is a tight race
with large power sector air pollutant emissions still between South Africa and Saudi Arabia, the
have made rapid progress in reducing emis- report stated
sions, Eskom has been stuck in place, lobbying Eskom has previously told Parliament it
against even the most rudimentary require- would cost about ZAR40bn ($2.67bn) to install
ments to curb its sulphur dioxide pollution.” the needed technology on its Medupi power sta-
As a result, CREA stated, the company has tion alone, funds the debt-ridden company did
now become the worst sulphur dioxide emitting not have at present. ™
power company in the world. “Eskom also emits

Norfund invests €10mn rural

electrification leader Baobab+

AFRICA PAN-AFRICAN solar kits distributor Baobab+ business model,” Norfund CEO Tellef Thorleifs-
has received a €10mn equity investment from son said in a statement.
Norfund, the Norwegian government’s invest- “Norfund is looking forward to supporting
ment fund for developing countries. Baobab+, the company in bringing affordable solar energy
which operates in Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal to even more households and expanding into
and Madagascar, will use the funds in part to new markets through our first investment in
expand into Nigeria and the DRC. the solar home system space in Francophone
According to Baobab+, the firm has equipped Africa,” Thorleifsson said.
220,000 mainly rural households, or some 1.2mn In the countries where Baobab+ operates,
beneficiaries, in the past five years. Its goal is to the company has been a pioneer in launching a
equip 1mn households with solar and digital smartphone offers with flexible pay-as-you-go
products within five years. (PAYG) payment models. In partnership with
“Increased access to electricity greatly local start-ups, Baobab+ also offers additional
improves the living standard of people in rural content such as e-education, health or the man-
or poor areas, and Baobab+ has proven its abil- agement of small business activities.™
ity to deliver great impact through a sustainable

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