Monday, 16 September 2024: Eskom, alongside key stakeholders and members of the Ezamokuhle community in Amersfoort, Mpumalanga marked a significant milestone in the Masibambisane Air Quality Offset (AQO) project which has been instrumental in reducing indoor air emissions and improving the overall quality of life for low-income households in the area.
Eskom’s Masibambisane AQO project is part of a broader initiative aimed at reducing emissions in households near its power stations. Through education programmes, insulation retrofits, and the provision of clean energy sources such as electricity and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Eskom is working to transition households away from coal and wood-burning, improving both air quality and indoor thermal comfort.
This project aligns with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment’s call for emission-reduction efforts in response to power generation impacts. In Ezamokuhle, 91% of targeted homes have already been upgraded, and future phases of the project will reach additional communities across Mpumalanga, including Phola, Thubelihle, and Masakhane.
The ceremony, held at the Ezamokuhle Community Hall in Ward 7, brought together local leaders, Eskom executives, project partners and community members to celebrate the impactful changes made within the community. The event underscored Eskom’s dedication to environmental sustainability and improving public health through cleaner energy solutions for Mpumalanga’s residents.
Deidre Herbst, Eskom’s Senior Environmental Manager, highlighted the project’s importance in meeting Eskom’s environmental goals. “Our goal is to have a comprehensive approach to cleaner energy which includes reducing harmful indoor emissions and create a cleaner, healthier environment for communities living near our power stations. By working together, we are making strides towards a more sustainable future,” she stated.
One of the event’s key moments was the ribbon-cutting itself, which took place at a registered home selected for full intervention under the AQO project. This home, originally a two-room structure with an asbestos roof, had been deemed structurally unsafe and was completely rebuilt. The project involved key interventions, including insulation, rewiring, ceiling installation, and the removal of the asbestos roof. The house was expanded to a two-bedroom home, offering its residents improved comfort, safety, and thermal efficiency.
Eskom partnered with contractors Polyfix and Similile Construction to complete these vital upgrades, showcasing its ongoing efforts to promote sustainable energy solutions within the community.
The success of the project in Ezamokuhle has laid the foundation for future large-scale rollouts of similar interventions, with over 36 000 households across Mpumalanga identified for participation in the programme that will be funded by Eskom. As the project moves into new areas, Eskom remains committed to tackling environmental challenges and improving quality of life through sustainable energy practices.
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