Eskom Praised for Improved Electricity Performance in South Africa

South Africa has enjoyed 54 consecutive days without load shedding, a notable achievement attributed to the combined efforts of Eskom and the government.

Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has credited Eskom officials for their significant contributions to the improved electricity performance in South Africa. During a media briefing at Megawatt Park on Monday, Dr. Ramokgopa discussed the latest developments in the implementation of the Energy Action Plan unveiled by President Cyril Ramaphosa in July 2022.

South Africa has enjoyed 54 consecutive days without load shedding, a notable achievement attributed to the combined efforts of Eskom and the government. Dr. Ramokgopa highlighted the collective effort behind this success, stating, "What we are seeing now is an exceptionally improved energy situation...is as a result of [a] constellation of efforts on the part of Eskom. It's [also] an all-of-government effort to ensure that we resolve the challenges that are facing the country…the resolution of an energy deficit."

However, he cautioned that challenges remain and urged continued focus on returning units to service promptly. "We are not yet out of the woods but we can see the trend line. We know that we are going to have momentary setbacks. It is the nature of this, but we must be fixed on...returning units on time. And where there are periods of failure, you mustn't be despondent," he said.

Reduction in Diesel UsageDr. Ramokgopa addressed rumors about excessive diesel usage by Eskom, clarifying that the use of Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs) has significantly decreased. "The [Open Cycle Gas Turbines] are part of the fleet. They are designed…that during afternoon peak, when you have elevated demand, if you are struggling to meet that demand then you engage the OCGTs. If you look at the period that they were on load on average was previously about 17% and then now, we are just shy of 6%. So it's a considerable drop on the usage. From the 1st of April 2024 to the 16th of May, Eskom spent R1.24 billion in engaging the OCGTs. The same period last year…we had burnt R5.2 billion worth of diesel. Essentially, we have seen a drop of 78%," he reported.

Role of Solar Energy

Solar energy remains a key component of the strategy to combat load shedding. Dr. Ramokgopa noted that the Energy Action Plan includes incentives to promote the rollout of rooftop solar solutions, which have seen significant growth. "If you go to the Energy Action Plan and you look at Outcome 4, it says…we have to introduce incentives to make it possible for us to aggressively roll out rooftop solar solutions by both industry and households. We have been able to double the amount of rooftop solar solution megawatts that can be drawn from that intervention from about 2100MW to 4400MW," he said.

Commendation of Eskom Employees

Dr. Ramokgopa praised Eskom employees for their professionalism and dedication, which have been instrumental in improving the electricity supply. He encouraged them to continue their hard work to ensure a reliable power supply for the nation. "As consummate professionals, you have done very well to get us to where we are. We are still looking for additional improved performance on your side. On behalf of Cabinet, we want to say thank you very much," he concluded.