Nkhensani Chauke
Eskom has achieved a milestone in having a 152 load shedding-free run but the DA says more needs to be done to ensure additional generation capacity.
DA spokesperson for energy and electricity Kevin Mileham MP said: “It is still early days, and we are not yet out of the woods. We still require additional generation capacity, if our economy is to grow”.
Mileham said the primary cause of load-shedding is the government not heeding to its own advice, corruption and maladministration which resulted in the first load-shedding.
He said the rise in electricity costs is caused by corruption, mismanagement inefficiencies at Eskom; massive debt burden arising partially from huge cost overruns at Medupi and Kusile; poor recovery of municipal and government debt owed to Eskom has led to spiraling debt servicing costs.
Eskom said it is anticipating a load-shedding free summer if it manages to keep unplanned losses at power stations below 13000 MW at a media briefing on Monday.
The electricity utility has had no load -shedding for 152 days including the winter season.
According to Eskom Chief Executive Dan Marokane the worst that is anticipated by the power utility is the unplanned losses reaching up to 15500MW, which will at most experience stage 2 load-shedding.
“The performance over the last four months has consistently hovered around unplanned losses of 12000 MW. Our power station managers and our teams are very alive to that, their focus on controlling unplanned losses and should we stay below 13000 MW, we should have a comfortable summer,” Marokane said.
Eskom said it remains focused on achieving financial and operational sustainability through continued improvements in the EAF, aiming for 70% by March 2025.
The power utility is also focused on reducing municipal arrear debt, enhancing measures to address crime and corruption and developing a skilled force to secure its long-term success.
Eskom is facing an inability to collect billions in revenue from municipalities in debt and rampant illegal connections which have resulted in power outages.
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