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Residents of district municipalities with coal-powered plants in South Africa face a 6 per cent greater risk of health issues due to air pollution than those in district municipalities without such power plants, as per a study by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).
The report was presented by the council’s Climate Change and Health Research Programme at a workshop in Pretoria.
Cardiovascular diseases are a major cause for concern in these areas.
The study indicated that children under the age of five are especially at risk, with a notable rise in pneumonia cases.
There is a higher incidence of cleft lip anomalies in babies in districts with coal-fired power plants, indicating considerable air pollution and associated health risks.
The research examined air quality data from the South African Air Quality Information System, mortality data from death certificates (1997-2018) and morbidity data from primary healthcare facilities, clinics and hospitals.
South Africa is the 7th largest coal producer in the world. The burning of this fuel in coal-fired power stations leads to the release of greenhouse gases, which are contributing to climate change, and to the formation of air pollutants which are dangerous for public health.
In South Africa, around 85 per cent or 42,000 megwatts, of the nation’s electricity is generated via coal-fired power stations.
South Africa’s power company Eskom has a fleet of coal power stations, 12 of which are located in the Mpumalanga Highveld and two in the Limpopo Waterberg, which are responsible for most of the air pollution.
The study recommended that coal-fired power stations should be phased out and replaced with renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydropower to eliminate health risks, but acknowledges the difficulties of this transition in a country like South Africa with high levels of poverty.
The report suggested that air quality regulations should be enhanced to more strictly enforce South Africa’s National Air Quality Standards, thereby preventing illnesses and premature deaths.
Additionally, it recommended educating communities near coal-fired power plants about the significant health risks they face. The report also called for better health surveillance to track pollution-related illnesses in affected areas and to address the health impacts effectively.
South Africa has moved to increase investment in its energy transition push in a bid to reduce dependence on its aging coal-fired power plants.
The country warded 1,760 megawatts of green-power projects as part of efforts to decrease its dependence on coal for electricity generation. This was revealed in a statement by the country’s the Electricity Minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, in a meeting with reporters in Pretoria on December 23, 2024.