The Department of Environmental Affairs recently gave permission for Eskom to operate three of Kusile's generation units without a flue-gas desulfurisation unit. With the predictions of high stages of loadshedding throughout the winter months, most of us surely feel that Kusile should be up and running - we can worry about clean air later. One understands the necessity of electricity supply and protection of the economy and jobs, but we must not think that it is without cost.

This episode is supported by the Bureau for Economic Research in Stellenbosch and the NWU Business School.