Title

The effect of coal-fired power plants on ambient air quality in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, 2014–2018.

Authors

Ngamlana, N. B.; Malherbe, W.; Gericke, G.; Coetzer, R. L. J.

Abstract

Several coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) were built in South Africa, mainly in the central Mpumalanga Province, due to an increase in the demand for Eskom, the national power utility, to keep up with socio-economic growth. The CFPPs, of which 90% are owned by Eskom, generate a significant share of the country's electricity but contribute to the air pollution experienced in the country. The paper discusses sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter of size less than 10 micrometre (μm) in diameter (PM10), using data from 2014 to 2018. The statistics revealed higher PM10 concentrations during winter than in summer and spring at the Kriel and Komati sites; associated with the higher contribution of domestic burning. The study's results could influence legislation and policies and help to understand the source of poor ambient air quality by assessing the three pollutants within the area of the selected power plants.

Subjects

SOUTH Africa; SULFUR compounds analysis; NITROGEN oxide analysis; AIR pollution; STATISTICAL correlation; ENVIRONMENTAL monitoring; SEASONS; FOSSIL fuels; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; RESEARCH; POWER plants; PARTICULATE matter; INDOOR air pollution; DATA analysis software

Publication

International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 2025, Vol 35, Issue 1, p220

ISSN

0960-3123

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1080/09603123.2024.2350600