Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the Minister of Energy and Electricity, together with Eskom top leadership, updated the country yesterday on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan (EAP) as Eskom marked 200 days of suspended load shedding. Picture: Supplied/GCIS
Energy and Electricity Minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has attributed to robust leadership at Eskom and the dedication of its employees the achieving more than 200 days of no load shedding, which has marked a turning point in energy reliability.
Reflecting on a period where the last load shedding event occurred for five hours on 26 March 2024, Ramokgopa underscored that this milestone is not simply a stroke of luck but a product of strategic planning and scientific methodologies.
“The achievement of more than 200 days without load shedding is no miracle, but steeped in science,” he stated.
Ramokgopa further emphasised that this success was pivotal for the Energy Action Plan, as the previous load shedding crisis had stymied economic growth across multiple sectors.
Notably, the Bureau for Economic Research at the University of Stellenbosch has forecast that with the absence of load shedding, South Africa’s economic growth could potentially rise to 3.5% over the next 18 to 24 months, a drastic increase from the mere 0.4% experienced year-on-year in the first half of 2024.
Ramokgopa highlighted a positive shift in what he termed the “happiness index”, attributing improved morale and productivity to the consistent availability of electricity.
Despite the triumph, the Minister cautioned that the work was far from complete.
Eskom is striving diligently to return three main units from extended outages as Koeberg Unit 2 (930MW), Kusile Unit 6 (800MW), and Medupi Unit 6 (794MW) are all due to be operational again by December 2024 and March 2025.
The Energy Availability Factor (EAF) has also seen improvement, reaching 63.9% in the current financial year so far, up from 58% in the corresponding period last year, indicating better performance from top-performing stations like Kusile and Duvha.
Furthermore, Ramokgopa pointed out that improved plant efficiencies have led to a remarkable 45% increase in power exports, benefiting neighbouring countries, including eSwatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, with a total export of 1 204 Gigawatt-hours (GWh) between February and August.
While discussing future energy prospects, Ramokgopa noted that the controversial Karpowership deal was “dead in the water,” but expressed optimism about the potential for renewable energy projects.
Eskom is now exploring joint venture opportunities with private sector investors, targeting the addition of 2 000MW through renewable sources.
“The more projects that enter this space, the greater the value to the consumer,” Ramokgopa asserted.
Although non-Eskom generation has only seen a slight growth of 0.1% year-on-year, accounting for 13.1% of total electricity generation, the utility aims for a 70% EAF by March 2025. This goal is not only aimed at ensuring stable energy supplies but also at reducing heavy expenditures on diesel, straining financial resources.
With operational efficiency showing promising signs, Eskom is also tackling municipal arrears debt, crime, and enhancing workforce skills to secure its long-term success.
The recent figures illustrate a decrease in unplanned outages, averaging 12 087MW over the past week, down from 15 065MW during the same week last year.
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