The environment minister said on Monday, but he added that the measures did not constitute a "blanket reprieve".

The government is struggling to strike a balance between calls to reduce its carbon footprint and stop harmful emissions and the need to provide electricity to Africa's most advanced economy, which has stagnated due to power cuts.

Power utility Eskom, whose fleet of old coal-fired power plants generates most of SA's electricity, had applied to exempt eight of its plants from minimum emission standards prescribed in air quality regulations.

In granting the exemptions, the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment said it would require Eskom to step up monitoring, appoint environmental health specialists and provide mobile health clinics, among other measures.

"These exemptions are not a blanket reprieve but are tailored to each facility with stringent conditions," Environment Minister Dion George told a press conference.

--Reuters--