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Eskom delivering ‘exceptional’ performance but Minister remains cautious

Location: News

Eskom delivering 'exceptional' performance but Minister remains cautious

Minister of Energy and Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has warned that although Eskom has delivered exceptional performance to keep load shedding at bay, the country is “not out of the woods yet”.

The country has not experienced load shedding for at least 130 days – a feat last achieved some four years ago.

“[Eskom CEO Dan] Marokane and the Eskom team have done exceptionally well. So over the past week [the week of July 22]…Eskom has averaged 70% of EAF [Energy Availability Factor]. When I say EAF, I’m talking about…the rate at which these units are failing and also the degree to which they approximate their design capacity.

“The same period last year…we were going through a period of load shedding and I had said to the country ‘short term pain for long term gain’. The same period last year, we were sitting at about 55% EAF. This is phenomenal. I want to emphasise, we are not out of the woods yet but the team is doing exceptionally well,” he said at a recent media briefing.

He highlighted another milestone reached by the power utility in July.

“The 23rd of July was a day to celebrate because for the first time since 2018, we had availability of 35 000MW plus. 

“The last time we had seen this was the 16th of July 2018. This is phenomenal, it is a confirmation that the strategy adopted by the board is working and we are going to stay at it and ensure that we are able to deliver the kind of performance that is required,” he said.

The Minister singled out improved performance at some six power stations, which he said, had reached at least 70% EAF.

“Kusile and Medupi [power stations] are expected to be in that category because they are some of our newest power stations. But I think what is encouraging us is that, consistently, Matla and Matimba [power stations] are there in that category. 

“There’s an intra-station competition which is very healthy for the purposes of driving this EAF,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Mon, 08/05/2024 - 10:17

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Read moreEskom delivering ‘exceptional’ performance but Minister remains cautious

Wind Energy in South Africa: A Balanced Perspective

Location: MyPR

Johannesburg, 29 July 2024: South Africa’s energy landscape is rapidly evolving, with renewable energy – specifically solar and wind – emerging as a significant player in the quest for a sustainable and reliable energy supply. Indications are that between a concerted effort by Eskom to recover underperforming coal fired power plants to higher levels of …

Read moreWind Energy in South Africa: A Balanced Perspective

Minister Ramokgopa commits to finding ‘enduring, lasting solution’ to rising electricity costs

Location: News

Minister Ramokgopa commits to finding 'enduring, lasting solution' to rising electricity costs

Minister of Energy and Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has moved to assure South Africans that the department is committed, together with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and municipalities, to finding an enduring solution to the rising cost of electricity in South Africa.

The Minister was addressing a media briefing on Monday morning.

“There’s been an exponential rise in the cost of electricity. Our electricity pricing plan needs to kick in and that’s the primary preoccupation of the work of the ministry now working with Eskom; working with municipalities and working with SALGA.”

Ramokgopa addressed some initiatives by municipalities, which have not been well received by communities. He cited the example of a “surcharge” (also known as a network fee).

“We really don’t want to engage publicly on the merits of whether the R200 [surcharge] is necessary or not. What we want to do is to find a more enduring and robust solution to this problem,” he said.

The Minister added that discussions with SALGA had already begun during the sixth administration.

“There’s an appreciation that it’s important that we pull together. This situation is untenable. Communities are getting more and more enraged [and] people just can’t afford the cost of electricity.

“As the ministry, together with the Deputy Minister, we have taken a view that we will not fold our arms although that domain… is the exclusive purview of local authorities. Municipalities rightfully say that it’s their domain but we are agreed with SALGA that we are going to resolve this problem domestically,” he said.

Ramokgopa said in finding solutions, the role of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) is indispensable.

“As an independent authority, they’ve got the duty to protect the consumer, they’ve got a duty to interrogate the proposed tariff increases from Eskom and also from municipalities. So what we’re going to do is not to pressure Nersa but to work with Nersa.

“We are going to insist on a Nersa framework… that takes care of the interests of the poor and the marginalised so that we don’t deny them access to electricity. Protect the interests also of the affluent because we can’t get to a situation where the pricing structure is such that it becomes unaffordable over time but also protects industries… that don’t become competitive as a result of the pricing structure.

“We will work with the municipalities. We know what you are going through and it is our intention to resolve this question,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Mon, 07/29/2024 - 14:05

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Read moreMinister Ramokgopa commits to finding ‘enduring, lasting solution’ to rising electricity costs

The Awareness Company: Transforming Sustainability Through Data

Location: MyPR

The Awareness Company, founded by Priaash Ramadeen, Shazia Vawda, and Estelle Lubbe, brings together nearly six decades of collective experience in fields ranging from border control and defense to municipal processes and conservation. Their situational awareness software has been instrumental in protecting over 10,000 rhinos, utilized by more than 200 organizations worldwide. Ramadeen highlights the …

Read moreThe Awareness Company: Transforming Sustainability Through Data

Raymond  Mhlaba Municipality receives  new electricity poles before road work.

Location: MyPR

The Raymond Mhlaba Municipality has been receiving much needed new poles with electric wires the past few weeks from Eskom. These installation have suffered delays from internal problems and natural disaster through out the year. These is just phase one which will be followed by road work  to be done to cover potholes and  create …

Read moreRaymond  Mhlaba Municipality receives  new electricity poles before road work.

World Bank Group Executive Directors note progress and re-affirm support to South Africa and Namibia

Location: News

The World Bank Group
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A delegation of the World Bank Group's (WBG) Board of Executive Directors (EDs) noted South Africa's and Namibia's progress in achieving their development goals and re-affirmed World Bank Group's commitment to providing support. The 11 EDs and Alternate EDs were hosted by the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC) country offices during their recent visit on July 7-13.

The visit provided a platform to assess progress with projects and engage on the evolution of the World Bank Group's relationship with the countries, from a knowledge-focused to a broader knowledge and financing partnership. EDs met government and business leaders, local stakeholders, and project beneficiaries, and experienced first-hand how the countries manage development priorities and challenges. South Africa and Namibia have common challenges, including poverty, unemployment, and inequality. Throughout the visit, the delegation discussed the ongoing and future support from the World Bank Group to boost inclusive economic growth and job creation.

In South Africa, over the past three years the country has shifted from being a non-borrowing client to borrowing over $1 billion per year from the World Bank. South Africa also constitutes the largest IFC portfolio in Africa and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency's (MIGA) second largest on the continent.

In Namibia, the World Bank Group is preparing a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) with the government that will strategically guide its support as the engagement continues to grow. The World Bank recently approved a $138.5 million renewable energy and transmission loan to NamPower, after 15 years without borrowing.

Key highlights of the visit included:

  • In South Africa, the delegation met with the Minister of Finance Honorable Enoch Godongwana, and the Minister of Electricity and Energy Honorable Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. EDs visited two IFC clients and two World Bank projects which showcased support for key government priorities and demonstrated how these projects link to global issues and corporate initiatives such as the just energy transition, health, urban development, and subnational government engagement. The delegation toured and engaged with stakeholders at the Komati power station – the site of the Eskom Just Energy Transition Project; the Addo Elephant Park that houses the innovative Wildlife Conservation Bond; and the IFC-supported Trust for Urban Housing Finance and BioVac Institute that manufactures vaccines locally.
  • In Namibia, the delegation met with Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises Honorable Ipumbu Shiimi and key stakeholders, including development partners and the private sector.  The delegation visited informal settlements near Windhoek to gain insights on housing related issues, a sector where IFC is investing and which the government has identified as a priority for World Bank Group engagement.

Matteo Bugamelli, the World Bank's Executive Director who represents the constituency of countries including Albania, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, and Timor-Leste, expressed optimism about the countries' progress. He emphasized the World Bank Group's commitment to helping South Africa and Namibia address unemployment and inequality challenges. He particularly welcomed the increased financing to support the implementation of much needed reforms.

About the World Bank Group's Board of Directors: The Board of Executive Directors is responsible for the conduct of the general operations of the Bank, making decisions on loans, credits, grants, policies, and financial matters. The Board consists of 25 members who represent the 189 member countries, providing guidance for the institution's development activities.

Visiting Board Officials: The delegation included Mr. Abdulaziz E A Almulla (Executive Director for Bahrain, Arab Republic of Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, West Bank and Gaza, and Republic of Yemen); Mr. Matteo Bugamelli (Executive Director for Albania, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, and Timor-Leste); Ms. Ayanda Dlodlo (Executive Director Angola, Nigeria, South Africa); Mr. Floribert Ngaruko (Executive Director for Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe); Ms. Katharine Rechico (Executive Director for Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts & Nevis and St. Vincent & the Grenadines); and Mr. Tauqir Shah (Executive Director for Afghanistan, Algeria, Ghana, Islamic Republic of Iran, Morocco, Pakistan, and Tunisia.

Visiting Alternate Executive Directors:  Mr. Louis Albisson (Alternate Executive Director for France); Mr. Felice Gorordo (Alternate Executive Director for the United States), Mr. Koji Uemura (Alternate Executive Director for Japan); Ms. Kerstin Sumana Wijeyewardene (Alternate Executive Director for Asia and the Pacific Constituency) and Mr. Weifeng Yang (Alternate Executive Director for China).

Included in the delegation was Ms. Mercy Tembon, World Bank Vice President and Corporate Secretary.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.

Read moreWorld Bank Group Executive Directors note progress and re-affirm support to South Africa and Namibia

Electricity system still vulnerable despite 120 days with no load shedding

Location: News

Electricity system still vulnerable despite 120 days with no load shedding

While this week marks 120 days without load shedding in South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa says it is too soon to claim victory.

“Our electricity system is still vulnerable, and we cannot yet rule out a possibility of further load shedding,” President Ramaphosa said on Tuesday. 

The President said this when he tabled the 2024/25 Presidency Budget Vote in Parliament. 

He told Members of Parliament (MPs) that one of the greatest impediments to economic growth has been the electricity crisis, which the Presidency has been instrumental in addressing. 

The National Energy Crisis Committee, which was established in 2022 to oversee the implementation of the Energy Action Plan, is chaired by the President and coordinated at a technical level by the Director-General in the Presidency. 

“With the support of the National Energy Crisis Committee, there has been a marked improvement in the performance of Eskom’s power stations, which produce the bulk of South Africa’s electricity.” 

WATCH | President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the National Assembly during the tabling of the Presidency’s Budget Vote.

 

Meanwhile, he said regulatory changes have enabled substantial new investment in electricity generation. 

He announced that government has also been working closely with independent power producers (IPPs) in steering their projects through to the construction phase, contributing significantly to the reduction in the severity of load shedding. 

“We are going to continue working with companies, financial institutions and business organisations, both South African and international, during the course of our ambitious investment drive over the last five years.” 

According to the Head of State, alleviating load shedding, improving the performance of the logistics system, reducing the cost of data, improving water supply, attracting the much-needed skills, and the reforms already underway will provide a significant boost to the economy in the medium term.

“In addition, these reforms support the repositioning of strategic State-owned enterprises by strengthening their balance sheets and improving their operational performance, while also enabling higher levels of private investment in infrastructure.” 

READ | President: 100 days of no load shedding no reason to relax

Corruption

The President also touched on corruption and stated that government has made important progress in implementing the recommendations of the State Capture Commission. 

“This includes the work of our law enforcement agencies to bring perpetrators to justice and to recover stolen funds, as well as the legislative and other changes needed to strengthen the fight against corruption and prevent state capture.” 

In addition, he said the Presidency plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the work of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has an impact and that people involved in wrongdoing face the consequences of their actions. 

“The Presidency has forged a close working relationship with the SIU and law enforcement agencies to monitor the implementation of the recommendations for criminal, disciplinary and administrative action arising from SIU investigations,” he added. – SAnews.gov.za 

 

Gabisile
Tue, 07/23/2024 - 15:30

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Read moreElectricity system still vulnerable despite 120 days with no load shedding

Eskom granted licence extension for Koeberg Unit 1

Location: News

Eskom granted licence extension for Koeberg Unit 1

Electricity and Energy Minister, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has welcomed the announcement made by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) on the licence extension for the operating life of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Unit 1.

On Monday, Eskom announced that the NNR had granted the power utility the licence to continue that unit for another 20 years until 21 July 2044.

“The extension of the operating life of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Unit 1 will not only ensure the continued supply of electricity to meet the growing demand, but also contribute to our efforts in transitioning towards a cleaner, more affordable and sustainable energy future.

“We look forward to the continued safe and reliable operation of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Unit 1 as we work towards meeting our energy needs,” Ramokgopa said.

Eskom Chief Nuclear Officer Keith Featherstone said the granting of the licence is “a testament to the hard work and continued commitment of our teams to nuclear safety and Eskom’s generation recovery plan”.

“Over the years, Koeberg has identified and implemented safety improvements through both French and US nuclear experiences, which have reduced the risk to levels that would normally only be achieved by new, modern nuclear power plants,” Featherstone said.

The power utility explained that the unit will continue to operate until January 2025 “when the unit will be shut down for its next scheduled refuelling and maintenance outage”.

“The current licence for Koeberg Unit 2 only expires on 9 November 2025 and the Koeberg Power Station is implementing some of the pre-requisites for Long Term Operation in the current outage. 

“Once the current outage is complete, Unit 2 will be returned to service, and the NNR has stated that the decision regarding the Long-Term Operation for Unit 2 will only be made at a later date, but prior to 9 November 2025,” Eskom said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Tue, 07/16/2024 - 09:48

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Read moreEskom granted licence extension for Koeberg Unit 1

Empowering South African Businesses: Neosun Energy’s Solar Solutions Offer Relief Amidst Electricity Price Hikes

Location: News
Neosun

With local South Africa branches  Global EPC company Neosun Energy (www.Neosun.com) offers affordable  solar energy solutions for local businesses to mitigate the impact of rising electricity prices.

According to South African Government reports, starting from July 2024, Johannesburg residents will experience a 12.72% increase in electricity costs under local authority tariff charges. Eskom's direct customers will increase  all tariff charges, excluding the affordability subsidy charge, from 1st  April 2024 to 31st March 2025.

This price hike will impact both residential and business customers, adding financial pressure across the board. The main issue is that new tariffs will increase business costs and reduce profit margins, which forces companies to increase prices and pass them onto the consumer. It means higher operational costs, potentially affecting profitability and leading to higher prices for goods and services.

In this challenging environment, Neosun Energy can play a pivotal role in alleviating the burden of increased electricity costs. Providing solar energy solutions, Neosun Energy can help businesses and local enterprises reduce their dependence on traditional, more expensive electricity sources.

“This increase will primarily affect businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as their profitability will significantly decrease due to such a hike. The best solution to avoid this is to transition to solar energy, which locks in rates permanently. With solar generation, rates do not rise; they are fixed for the next 30 years. Solar Energy transferring -  is exactly what can help local enterprises gain their independence from constant bill increases, ” emphasized Ilya Likhov, CEO of Neosun Energy.

 Investing in solar energy, businesses can lower their operational costs over the long term, enhancing their profitability and competitiveness.

Today Neosun Energy is presented with 2 local branches in South Africa, located in Cape Town and Johannesburg, bringing to the South African market a high level service of a global company with experience in 16 countries around the world, and saving affordable prices for its customers.

"We firmly believe that establishing local Neosun Energy offices will bring us closer to local businesses and commercial enterprises, enabling us to offer affordable solar energy solutions such as solar plants, innovative energy storage systems, and portable Power Hubs." - added Mr. Likhov.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Neosun.

Media Contact:
For requests: info@neosun.com
CEO Neosun Energy

Social Media: 
Ilya Likhov - LinkedIn: http://apo-opa.co/3Y3WoSi

About Neosun Energy:
Neosun Energy (www.Neosun.com) is an international Solar EPC company that provides Commercial Solar PV & Energy Storage Solutions (ESS) with capacity from 200kW to 10MW for Commercial and Industrial projects Worldwide. The company constructs solar power plants and energy storage systems (ESS) on a turn-key basis, covering all stages of construction including design, equipment supply, construction, and commissioning. The company has implemented solar PV projects in 16 countries worldwide.

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Read moreEmpowering South African Businesses: Neosun Energy’s Solar Solutions Offer Relief Amidst Electricity Price Hikes

Cape Town schools closed, 15 000 people affected by severe weather

Location: News

Cape Town schools closed, 15 000 people affected by severe weather

The Western Cape Government (WCG) continues to provide shelter, food, and blankets to the homeless as the province faces heavy downpours, resulting in the closure of many schools.

The province announced that schools in the Cape Town metro districts, Cape Winelands and Overberg districts as well as parts of the West Coast district have closed today.

“In the interests of learner and teacher safety, and after extensive consultation with the Provincial Disaster Risk Management Centre and the South African Weather Service (SAWS), a decision has been taken to close schools in certain districts in the Western Cape [on Thursday],” Western Cape MEC for Education, David Maynier, said on Wednesday. 

According to the MEC, all other schools in the remaining districts will be open unless approval has been granted for closure.

“Our default position is always to keep schools open but are mindful of the severity of the warnings in place and the damage already caused in certain areas.

“So far, 20 schools have been granted permission for closure across the province, the majority of which are in the Cape Winelands district,” the MEC explained. 

Over the past few days, 137 schools have reported some form of damage to infrastructure, either because of flooding or heavy winds. Most of the cases are minor, while 49 cases require urgent attention.

Level 8 warning

Meanwhile, a Level 8 warning has been issued by the SAWS for disruptive rain.

This warning remains in place for heavy rain, flooding, and mudslides, particularly in the Cape Town metro, Drakenstein and Stellenbosch regions.

The province is also expecting strong winds to persist over the interior regions and along the coastal areas of Saldanha Bay and Cape Agulhas over the next few days.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, the PDMC and other stakeholders are monitoring the series of cold fronts very closely. 

“Virtually all WCG departments are working together to mitigate the possible impact of this weather system. 

“All stakeholders will remain vigilant, and I urge members of the public to also do so. Disaster management teams are working tirelessly to keep members of the public out of harm’s way. For this, we are very thankful.”

The WCG said they have been working closely with all affected municipalities, national departments, as well as non-government organisations (NGOs), who have been working tirelessly to safeguard lives and assist residents in need during the current floods.  

Chief Director of Disaster Management, Colin Deiner, explained that over the next several days the centre will continue to monitor the situation closely. 

He stressed that a critical aspect of the overall response is to ensure all disaster officials and organisations are adequately resourced to keep up the good work they have been doing.

Humanitarian support

Meanwhile, about 4 000 structures have sustained damage across Cape Town, impacting 15 000 people. 

“With the help of NGOs, 11 000 hot meals are being provided each day across Cape Town metro to people affected by the weather.”

The Western Cape Department of Social Development is coordinating humanitarian relief efforts for affected communities with partner NGOs like Gift of the Givers Foundation, The Warehouse Foundation, Ashraful Aid, Al-Imdaad Foundation, Islamic Relief SA, and the Community Chest of the Western Cape. 

In addition, many rivers are reaching full saturation levels and run-off could increase exponentially. This is being closely monitored by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

Dams

Many of the province’s dams are also rising rapidly, with Clanwilliam Dam currently sitting at 90.89%, Berg River Dam increased to 104.06%, the Theewaterskloof Dam at 76%, while Misverstand Dam has risen to 161%. 

“A controlled release of water from Wemmershoek Dam into the Berg River was carried out as a precautionary measure. This controlled release is necessary to reduce the risk of flooding downstream.”

Electricity

According to the provincial government, electricity faults are being reduced. However, 11 000 people are still without Eskom power in numerous areas, including Citrusdal, De Doorns and Touwsrivier. 

In Delft, around 1 500 Eskom customers are without electricity. 

“The power utility is working hard to restore power.” – SAnews.gov.za
 

Gabisile
Thu, 07/11/2024 - 11:25

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Read moreCape Town schools closed, 15 000 people affected by severe weather

Illegal connections, criminality leads to load reduction in some areas

Location: News

Illegal connections, criminality leads to load reduction in some areas

Eskom has announced that it will resume load reduction in some areas due to network overloading with the onset of winter.

Load reduction is implemented in areas when the demand is higher than the infrastructure - such as transformers - is able to handle. It is not load shedding.

Eskom Group Executive for Distribution, Monde Bala, explained that overloaded transformers can leave customers without electricity supply for an extended period.

“Overloaded transformers as a result of electricity theft present a serious risk to human life. We only implement load reduction as a very last resort for the shortest periods possible after all other options have been exhausted.

“A transformer damaged by overloading can leave an area without power for up to six months, protecting Eskom’s assets is in the best interest of all South Africans,” Bala said.

The power utility said the challenge is particularly prevalent in supply areas in Limpopo, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and North West.

According to Eskom, overloading mainly occurs during peak morning and evening times.

“About 94% of the total overloaded transformers are in these areas as a result of electricity theft and indiscriminate use of electricity.

“Despite continued public information campaigns to customers about the implications of electricity theft activities, Eskom has no other option but to implement load reduction to protect its assets from repeated failures and explosions, which pose a risk to human live,” Eskom said.

Mitigating risk

Eskom revealed that some 2111 transformers across the country are “frequently overloaded” and are at risk of damage with a further 900 already awaiting replacement.

The power utility called on consumers to heed warnings regarding the risks of overloading.

“Eskom’s electricity infrastructure is designed to handle loads based on known demand, which is legally connected customers and actual sales for specific areas.

“Exceeding these loads through electricity theft can overload the equipment, potentially causing explosions that may lead to electrical fires in the surrounding areas. Thus, overloading presents a serious risk to lives and equipment, particularly mini-substations and transformers.

“To prevent load reduction and abrupt loss of supply, Eskom has launched the ‘Save Your Transformers, Save Lives’ campaign that urges customers to reduce their consumption, ensure that the electricity they consume is legally connected, paid for, purchased from legal vendors, and to report illegal activities,” Eskom said.

According to Eskom, the winter season presents a particular challenge due to “exponential increase in energy demand in areas prone to electricity theft, as electricity is often used indiscriminately, leading to network failure due to extreme overloading”.

“Over time, Eskom has invested resources and increased capacity to meet the exponential demand in these areas prone to overloading. Despite these investments, the demand has continued to grow, rendering the situation unsustainable.

“Eskom has been engaging with various communities, educating them on the safe and efficient use of electricity. In some areas, Eskom has removed illegal connections; however, network overloading persists,” the power utility said.

The electricity supplier explained that, regretfully, paying customers cannot be excluded from load reduction.

“While Eskom aims to exclude paying customers from load reduction, the network’s configuration does not allow for dedicated supply lines to paying customers, making it impractical to service them separately.

“To prevent load reduction and abrupt loss of supply, customers are urged to reduce their consumption, ensure that the electricity they consume is legally connected, paid for, and purchased from legal vendors, and to report illegal activities. Additionally, customers are encouraged to switch off non-essential appliances, such as heaters and geysers, and use alternative heating methods,” the power utility said.

To report criminal activities such as illegal connections, theft and vandalism that can damage transformers, mini-substations and other electricity infrastructure contact the Eskom Crime Line on 0800 112 722. – SAnews.gov.za

 

NeoB
Tue, 07/09/2024 - 10:01

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Read moreIllegal connections, criminality leads to load reduction in some areas

Eskom former official, service provider appear in court

Location: News

Eskom former official, service provider appear in court

An Eskom former employee and a service provider at the power utility have appeared in the Hendrina Magistrates’ Court to face charges of theft and fraud.

The two made separate appearances at the court and were released on bail of R30 000 each.

The power utility explained that an investigation had revealed that between January and April last year, the service provider had supplied five valve stems to the Hendrina Power Station.

According to Eskom the valves “were stolen from the same power station warehouse, as a result of working with the Eskom employee”.

“An internal investigation revealed that the Eskom employee had misused company resources without authorisation for their own personal gain and also falsified documents as the end-user.”
The Eskom employee resigned while a disciplinary action was being instituted.

“Eskom suffered a financial loss of R667 500 because of this criminal activity,” Eskom said.

Eskom Acting General Manager for Security Botse Sikhwitshi vowed that the power utility will continue to root out criminality in its ranks.

“Eskom strongly condemns any fraudulent activity in its business operations and will not tolerate such behaviour. Our internal security investigations team will continue collaborating with the South African Police Service in ensuring that those who enrich themselves at Eskom’s expense are held accountable,” Sikhwitshi said.

The two are expected back in court on 29 July. – SAnews.gov.za
 

NeoB
Tue, 07/09/2024 - 11:11

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Read moreEskom former official, service provider appear in court

Wet, cold weather expected to continue in Western Cape

Location: News

Wet, cold weather expected to continue in Western Cape

Cold and wet weather is expected to continue in the Western Cape this week with a series of cold fronts still to make landfall over the coming days.

“A series of cold fronts are still on track to make landfall, resulting in a week of wet and cold conditions. [Monday] will see the coldest daytime temperatures, and the next cold front with rain is expected to arrive on Tuesday.

“Between 10 and 20mm of rain is expected over the western parts, and between 40 and 60mm can be expected over the southern western mountains,” the Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning department said.

The department added that the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) is monitoring the situation.

“[The South African Weather Service] confirmed its outlook for strong to gale force west to north-westerly winds for the south-west coast and emphasised the high danger of runaway wildfires in the Garden Route District. The Department of Water and Sanitation continues to monitor river and dam levels, which are expected to rise significantly in the coming week.

“Eskom reported several outages over the past 48 hours caused by the severe weather. Cape Town, the West Coast and Overberg regions were hardest hit so far, and repair teams are attending to them as fast as possible,” the department said.

READ | Western Cape prepares for inclement weather

Disruptive weather

The department’s MEC Anton Bredell said since the first cold front made landfall over the weekend, the PDMC has received reports of damage and disruptions due in several areas.

“Widespread disruptions and damage, including loss of shelter in informal settlements, localised flooding, fallen trees, electricity outages, and road closures due to snow or flooding, were reported during our meeting [on Monday].

“The City of Cape Town, Overberg, Cape Winelands and West Coast Districts were hardest hit by the severe weather. As always, our focus remains on the safety of our residents and the humanitarian support that they need,” he said.

Significant rainfall has already been recorded in several towns in the Western Cape, including at Ceres, which received some 123mm and Elgin Grabouw which received 84mm of rainfall.

The provincial government and the national Department of Human Settlements are working together to assist those who have lost homes due to flooding.

Search and rescue operations are also ready for those communities cut off from main roads.

“Wuppertal and other communities in the Cederberg area will be reached by specialised 4x4 teams once a needs assessment has been conducted, and we will be ready for similar requests as the week unfolds,” Bredell said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

NeoB
Mon, 07/08/2024 - 15:00

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Read moreWet, cold weather expected to continue in Western Cape

Municipalities’ R78 billion Eskom debt an ‘urgent task’ – Ramokgopa

Location: News

Municipalities' R78 billion Eskom debt an 'urgent task' - Ramokgopa

The R78 billion debt owed to Eskom by municipalities must be urgently addressed to protect the ability of the power utility to fulfil its mandate.

This is according to Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgop,a who addressed the media on Monday.

“Collectively, municipalities are owing Eskom R78 billion and…a lot of this is irrecoverable. There’s no possibility under the sun that we are going to collect that R78 billion. It’s important that we resolve this picture.

“This picture presents problems for Eskom. Eskom needs this money for it to be able to reinvest back into its own infrastructure. Municipalities have to pay that money…but on an objective ground, they simply don’t have the means to be able to pay,” he said at the briefing held in Pretoria.

Ramokgopa said the current trajectory of the debt owed to Eskom poses a threat to the existence of the power utility in the future.

“To give you the magnitude of the problem, if we don’t resolve this problem, our projection is that at the current rate, by 2050, Eskom will be owed R3.1 trillion. Eskom will collapse. Generation capacity is going to be compromised. So, it’s important that we resolve this question.

“This is the most urgent task that is confronting us. It is municipality related but we can’t fold our arms, we need to help them from a technical point of view.”

He emphasised that continued non-payment is affecting Eskom’s ability to address distribution infrastructure needs – leading to the implementation of load reduction.

Load reduction is implemented in areas when the demand is higher than the infrastructure is able to handle.

“In the solution, we must protect the interests of Eskom as a going concern, ensure that municipalities are able to collect [revenue] but also protect the interests of the user. Because when that distribution infrastructure fails that is providing electricity to 50 houses, there’ll be 10 to 20 houses that have been paying diligently but they are collateral damage.

“The biggest victims of all of that is the end consumer and, by definition, is the South African economy,” he said.

The Minister said the department, together with municipal leaders will address the challenge of electricity affordability and access to allow municipalities to be able to collect revenue.

“It is important that we must review electricity tariff models to enhance affordability and expand access. Everyone must have access to electricity and once they have access…make sure that they can afford it. That’s something that is going to receive our attention.

“Distribution is our albatross…it’s on a mode of self-destruction and the casualties are the poor. They are the ones that are subjected to conditions of load reduction in the main and even those who are diligent payers are subjected to load reduction.

“This can’t continue any further. It’s important that we arrest it so that we are able to ensure that the country is able to achieve its developmental objectives,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

NeoB
Mon, 07/08/2024 - 12:22

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Read moreMunicipalities’ R78 billion Eskom debt an ‘urgent task’ – Ramokgopa

100 days of no load shedding presents a moment for reflection

Location: News

100 days of no load shedding presents a moment for reflection

Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says while it is commendable that the 100 day milestone of no load shedding has been achieved in the country; it is also a chance to reflect on the hard work that has gone into addressing the problem.

The Minister was speaking during a media briefing in Tshwane on Monday.

Government has, through the Energy Action Plan announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in July 2022, together with Eskom, honed in on the issue of load shedding since it reached crisis levels that same year.

“We were able to register that milestone…of 100 consecutive days without load shedding. It’s not a moment of celebration. But it’s [a moment] for us to take stock of where we came from and the fact that interventions are working and they are beginning to illustrate that indeed it can be done.

“It’s done…principally by Eskom engineers with little assistance from outside. Yes, there’s that framework from NECOM [National Energy Crisis Committee] getting assistance from outside but fundamentally, it’s driven by Eskom employees,” he said.

Ramokgopa explained that Eskom has managed to reduce unplanned outages at power stations’ generating units significantly as compared to the same period last year – helping to keep the lights on.

“If you look at June last year, we were sitting at 17 000MW of the megawatts that we had lost as a result of the unreliability of these units. Today… that unplanned capacity loss factor is sitting at 12 000MW. So we were able to recoup 5000MW.

“That doesn’t tell the complete story because if you look at the comparative period…you’ll find that our planned capacity loss factor, the number of units that we have taken out to fix them, is still about 1000MW greater than what was the case before. So if you factor that in that number, we have recouped about 6000MW,” he said.

He once again batted away suggestions that the performance of Eskom is boosted by the burning of diesel at the Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs).

According to the Minister, as compared to the same period last year, Eskom has considerably reduced its use of the diesel guzzling turbines.

“We are not burning diesel to levels that are unacceptable for us to be able to maintain this kind of performance. If you were to look at the amount of diesel that we spent [during] the same period last year compared to now, we have saved R6.2 billion.

“From the 1st of April 2024 to the 30th of June 2024, compared the 1st of April 2023 to the 30th of June 2023, the difference is that this year, we have burnt R6 billion less of diesel. There’s nothing about diesel that is anchoring the kind of performance we are seeing now.

“It all has to do with the performance of these coal fired power stations and the work that the team has done to ensure that we are able to address this situation,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

NeoB
Mon, 07/08/2024 - 11:39

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Read more100 days of no load shedding presents a moment for reflection