Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd (Eskom) is proposing the development of a new Combined Cycle Gas Power Plant (CCGPP) in Richards Bay. The Project, registered by the government as a Strategic Infrastructure Project (SIP) 20D, forms a key part of the National Government’s critical interventions to address future energy security constraints, diversify the country’s energy mix, and improve environmental performance. The proposed large-scale power generation facility will have an installed generation capacity of up to 3 000 MW and will operate primarily on re-gasified Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), with diesel utilised as a secondary back-up fuel source. The proposed CCGPP will comprise a range of associated infrastructure required for power generation, water management, fuel handling, and ancillary services.
Location: Eskom has identified Richards Bay as the preferred location for the development of the CCGPP, located within the city of uMhlathuze Local Municipality in the jurisdiction of the King Cetshwayo District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. The proposed plant will be on Portion 2 and Portion 4 of Erf 11376 within the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone Phase 1D.
SRK Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd (SRK) has been appointed by Eskom as the independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Water Use Licence Application (WULA) for the project. Phelamanga (Pty) Ltd has been appointed to oversee the public participation process.
Applications are being submitted for:
- Environmental Authorisation via a Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting (S&EIR) process in terms of the NEMA Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, 2014 (as amended), for activities triggered in Listing Notice (LN) 1, LN 2 and LN 3.
- Water Use License in terms of the NWA. The Section 21 water uses triggered include: (a), (c), (g), (i) and (j).
- Atmospheric Emissions Licence in terms of Section 21 of the NEM:AQA.
Interested and affected parties are invited to register and comment on the Scoping Report that is available for public comment for a period of 30 days from 14 August 2026 to 14 September 2026.
Public Open Days and Public Meetings: Public open days will be held, with a formal public meeting held during the day, as follows:
- Public open days: 24 and 25 August 2026, 10h00-18h00 at the Richards Bay Library in Krugerrand Road, Richards Bay.
- Public meeting (in-person): 24 August 2026, 11h00-13h00 at the Richards Bay Library in Krugerrand Road, Richards Bay.
- Public meeting (in-person): 25 August 2026, 16h00-18h00 at the Richards Bay Library in Krugerrand Road, Richards Bay.
- Public meeting (virtual): 26 August 2026, 17h00-19h00 (contact Phelamanga via details below to obtain the meeting invite)
