Eskom working around the clock to ensure energy availability: Makwana

The Eskom Board Chair Mpho Makwana says the power utility is working around the clock to ensure that it achieves the 7% energy availability factor by March next year.

Makwana was speaking at the Demand Side Management Indaba in Mulderdrif, Johannesburg, on Monday.

Eskom has been grappling to keep the lights on for quite some time. The power utility has also been looking for additional energy capacity, which is desperately needed to lessen rolling blackouts.

Eskom’s Chief Financial Officer, Cassim Callib, says the Demand Side Management (DSM) Indaba should bring out solutions to the energy crisis that the country is facing, especially as winter approaches.

In the past couple of weeks, Eskom implemented rolling blackouts going up to Stage 6.

Callib explains their priorities, “We need to focus on the next six months because that’s when the system is extremely tight as we embark on the winter period, so while you’re having your discussions, my request to everyone is what can be done in the next six months, 12 months, and 18 months, going forward. The team has launched its national demand management initiative aiming to achieve a capacity from this demand side initiative of just under 1500 megawatts and please at the end of the day.”

The video below is of the National Demand Side Management Indaba:

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Earlier on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his weekly letter, said extensive efforts are being made to reduce rolling blackouts – this includes efforts such as returning units at Eskom’s Kusile and Medupi power stations to service on time.

At the weekend, Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa also unveiled his energy plan aimed at reducing load shedding.

President Ramaphosa says South Africa’s energy plan is on track

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