Komati Power Station Will Go Green As World Bank Approves R9bn Funding for Just Energy Transition Project

• Komati power station will be turned into a renewable energy generation site after the World Bank approved a R9 billion loan
• The Komati Just Energy Transition Project will repurpose the recently decommissioned coal-fired plant
• Eskom states the project will clean the quality of air in the surrounding area and provide new skills for the power station's employees

MPUMALANGA - Eskom's recently decommissioned Komati power station is due to get a much-needed facelift after the World Bank approved financing for the Komati Just Energy Transition Project.

The lion's share of the R9 billion project will be financed through a R8 billion loan from the World Bank. The remaining funds will be secured through a R870 million concessional loan from the Canadian-World Bank Clean Energy and Forest Climate Facility in addition to a R183 million grant from the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program.

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Komati, which had been operational since 1961, was fully decommissioned on Monday, 31 October, when its last generating unit was taken offline at midday. The plan is now to convert the power station into a renewable-producing site producing 150MW of solar and 70MW of wind power, with the capacity of 150MW of storage batteries.

Eskom said it hopes the Komati Just Energy Transition Project will serve as a global blueprint for the transition of fossil-fuel assets, News24 reported.

There has been increased anxiety over how the decommissioning and repurposing of Komati will affect the economy, Eskom and the surrounding community.

However, according to Engineering News, the power utility has vowed to follow the Just Energy Transition strategy, ensuring that the power station's staff and qualifying beneficiaries from the surrounding communities are reskilled and upskilled. Eskom will also facilitate the development of local enterprises and value chains to ensure that no sector of society is left behind.

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World Bank Group President David Malpass admitted that reducing carbon emissions will be a difficult task in SA as a result of the high carbon intensity of the energy sector. However, the decommissioning is expected to improve the air quality in the area surrounding the power station, which locals have been contending with for years.

Speaking exclusively to Briefly News, Promise Mbulele, an environmental activist at Vukani Environmental Justice Movement in Action, said the organisation welcomed the closure and repurposing of Komati, but climate activists require more transparency from Eskom.

Mbulele called on the World Bank and Eskom to publicise the conditions of the loan, in addition to specifying what the money would be used for. Mbulele added that environmental activists in Mpumalanga were also calling for restorative justice.

The activist asked:

"How will Eskom support the people who became sick because of their carbon emissions? Does the loan support that as well?"

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Vukani is a climate justice organisation that took the government to court over deadly air quality in Mpumalanga and won a landmark judgement that recognised air pollution as a violation of constitutional rights.

South Africans react to Komati going green

Concerned citizens are worried that corrupt politicians will plunder the loan and leave the country with huge amounts

Here are some reactions:

@OfHodl demanded:

"Turn it into a natural gas power plant, you idiots."

@LoyisoNxumalo commented:

"Now let’s manage it properly ⭐️"

Gwede Mantashe says South Africa’s green future will result in unemployment, calls for slow energy transition

In a related story, Briefly News reported that Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe again endorsed fossil fuels, saying a speedy transition to renewable energy will increase unemployment and deepen energy poverty.

The Energy Minister made these comments during an address at the Africa Oil Week in Cape Town on Tuesday, 4 October.

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Civil Society groups have been protesting outside the conference, with many climate activists armed with banners that say "fossil fuels kill", but according to Mantashe, hunger kills faster.

Source: Briefly News