Eskom can only reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 owing to financial woes

Financial woes brought on by years of mismanagement mean Eskom will only be able to reduce its to net zero by 2050 – and it will only achieve 57% compliance with South Africa's Minimum Emission Standards (MES) on air quality, in four years.

Moreover, the cost of retrofitting infrastructure needed to curb emissions is prohibitive, with flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) technology for its Medupi power station alone expected to cost billions of rands.

Eskom is the country's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases due to its coal-fired power stations, while South Africa is the 12^th highest greenhouse gas emitter in the world.