The two chimneys are 275 m, high structure, each having three internal brick flues, and their foundations rest on weathered bush-veld granite.

Design efficiency at rated turbine MCR: 35.30% In 2009, Kendal was the 10th most polluting power plant in the world.

[6] Following a period of non-compliance of all six generation units at Kendal in 2018 and 2019, the Department of Environment, Forestry and fishery issued a Compliance Notice to Eskom on 10 December 2019, compelling operation of two units to cease, and ordered corrective measures to be undertaken in compliance with the Kendal's Atmospheric Emissions License (AEL).

On 27 November 2020, Eskom was served with a summons for supplying misleading information to an Air Quality Officer.

This followed an internal investigation and report prepared by Eskom Audit and Forensic (A&F) into air quality compliance and reporting, initiated by Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter on 17 May 2020 following investigations and articles by EE Business Intelligence on these matters.