PlanetArk 30 Mar 09;
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa, the largest emitter of carbon dioxide on the continent, expects to build its first pilot plant for the capture and storage of emissions by 2020, a government official said on Friday.
The country, often commended for being most active among developing countries in fighting climate change, set a target to cap emissions by 2020-25, and to reduce them by mid-century.
Carbon capture storage has been identified as one of the ways to mitigate the country's greenhouse gas emissions.
Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said the government would ensure that funds were available to make this happen, along with industry and international support.
"If there is a need we will respond accordingly ... we want to meet the target and by 2020 see the plant established," Sonjica said at the launch of the carbon capture storage centre that will drive the research and progress in CCS.
The government-led agency in charge of the process, the South African National Energy Research Institute (SANERI), said it had already secured 25 million rand ($2.65 million) for the centre for the next five years.
"It's not sufficient to build the plant or do the test injection, but enough to get us up and running and complete the capacity building component," said SANERI's Acting Chief Executive Tony Surridge.
South Africa, Africa's largest emitter and 12th in the world, depends on coal for 90 percent of its power.
Sonjica commended the industry's involvement in the project.
The signatories include petrochemicals group Sasol, state-owned utility Eskom, together responsible for more than half of the country's emissions, which altogether amount to more than 400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
Other partners include the British and Norwegian government, miner Anglo American's coal unit, diversified miner Exxaro, and Xstrata Coal.
SANERI said 60 percent of South Africa's emissions are potentially capturable.
A study to identify the possible storage capacity is expected to be completed by April 2010, with a commercial decision for the demonstration plant to be made by 2016.
(Reporting by Agnieszka Flak; Editing by Giles Elgood)