Picture: for illustration purposes
President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the decision to grant a temporary postponement for the Kusile Power Station to operate without sulphur dioxide pollution control technology. This contentious decision has drawn widespread attention due to its environmental implications and the South African government's obligation towards reducing greenhouse gases.
Addressing this controversial issue during an oral questioning session at the National Council of Provinces on Thursday, President Ramaphosa reaffirmed the country's commitment towards a greener economy and its dedication to boosting global climate change efforts.
The President stressed the provisional nature of the postponement. He described it as an essential step towards the restoration of three units that had sustained significant damage last October. Despite this temporary leeway, he affirmed the country's unwavering commitment to combatting climate change.
President Ramaphosa further clarified South Africa's approach towards transitioning to a low-carbon economy, stating it would be carried out "at a pace and scale that is affordable to us", highlighting its significance under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This convention encourages countries to independently determine their contribution towards the global push for decarbonisation.
As part of this commitment, South Africa submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the UN in 2021. The NDC embodies the efforts that each country plans to make to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The President reassured the state's commitment to the identified target range for emission reduction and expressed optimism based on recent greenhouse gas inventory data.