Eskom, treasury seek renewal of R15bn loan facility

Eskom and South Africa’s National Treasury are in talks with banks to renew a R15 billion government-guaranteed loan facility that the indebted state power utility announced in February last year.

While the lenders are reluctant to renew the facility given the parlous state of Eskom’s finances, the funding is needed to help keep the company afloat, two people familiar with the discussions said. It’s unclear if the whole facility has been used.

Read: Power cuts cost SA up to R120bn in 2019, research shows

Eskom has more than R450 billion in debt, isn’t generating enough income to cover its operating costs and has instituted regular power outages as insufficient spending on maintenance leads to plant breakdowns. While the government has provided the utility with a series of bailouts, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has said there is no scope to provide more aid.

The talks on the loan facility need to be finalised this month, said the people who spoke on condition of anonymity. Eskom didn’t disclose the identity of the banks when it announced that it had secured the initial financing.

“Eskom and government are in negotiations with the lenders and discussions remain confidential,” the Treasury said in response to emailed questions. Eskom declined to comment.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government has made rescuing Eskom its key focus as it tries to kick-start a stagnating economy that’s hamstrung by a lack of power. Key to its success will be keeping the utility adequately financed.

“Standard Bank will engage with the process in a constructive and pragmatic manner whilst not compromising sound banking principles,” Standard Bank Group Ltd., South Africa’s biggest bank by assets, said. Absa Group Ltd., Nedbank Group Ltd. and Rand Merchant Bank declined to comment.

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