Eskom is celebrating 200 consecutive days of no loadshedding since 26 March 2024, but the Minister of Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says that the day when the power utility can stop celebrating the absence of loadshedding, and normalize having uninterrupted power, will be the day that the country will be completely out of the woods.
Ramokgopa briefed the media on Monday on the progress made with the Generation Operational Recovery Plan.
In July 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the Recovery Plan, appointing Ramokgopa as a Minister in the Presidency, with the mandate to end loadshedding.
Since then, the Minister says the plan has not only reduced unplanned outages by 8.6% and improved the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) by 7.7%, enhancing the reliability of our generation fleet, but it has positively impacted the economic outlook and Eskom’s profitability.
Eskom Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane says the plan is projected to contribute to a potential 2% growth in the South African economy and improve Eskom’s financial performance for the financial year 2025.
“We are in an incredibly exciting industry at a moment of tangible change. In preparation for a competitive electricity market this is a significant milestone to ensure energy security and attracting investment to South Africa. We are days away from a further milestone that demonstrates the stability of our fleet, on Saturday 18 October 2024 we are on track to reach 206 days without loadshedding, a result we last delivered five years ago on 15 October 2019.”
The Group Executive for Generation Bheki Nxumalo says the dedication of all Eskom employees has been crucial in driving these positive outcomes.
“We wish to convey our thanks to all our employees for reaching this achievement and we recognise that this is the result of immense hard work and time spent away from friends and families to deliver a national imperative in a high-pressure turnaround environment.”
Board chairperson Mteto Nyati adds the power utility’s journey to a stable and reliable power supply is well on track.
“To address the crisis that the current Eskom Board inherited when they took office in October 2022, it conducted an independent investigation and consulted with power station management using a data-driven approach to create the Generation Recovery Plan. Today’s achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team in implementing this plan. It demonstrates that with the right leadership, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment, we can overcome even the most daunting challenges.”
Ramokgopa says the target is still to reach a 70% Energy Availability Factor by March 2025, which will ensure a stable energy supply and reduce diesel expenditure.
Additionally, Eskom is focused on reducing municipal arrear debt, strengthening measures to combat crime and corruption, and developing a skilled workforce to secure its long-term success.
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Diversifying energy sources is another commitment as Eskom launches 2 000MW of clean energy projects.
Meanwhile, unbundling the power utility is on track. The National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) was recently launched, taking over Eskom’s transmission business. Eskom will now focus on unbundling its distribution and generation businesses.
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