Eskom pumps millions into restoring power

Eskom plans to spend over R1 trillion until 2025 to stabilise SA's power grid

Eskom plans to spend over R1 trillion until 2025 to stabilise South Africa's power grid. Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin says for now the power grid remains vulnerable, despite the fact that electricity supply has stabilised and coal stock piles have been beefed up.

Eskom CEO Jacob Maroga says consumers have failed to achieve a 10% demand reduction. Maroga told a news conference in Johannesburg yesterday that major customers will have to supply proof of how much power they have saved or they will be affected by load-shedding. Eskom announced late yesterday that big business had managed to save 10% of power consumption. However, smaller businesses and ordinary households have failed to achieve any meaningful savings.

The announcement came as Eskom announced that it would increase power to mines to 95% to help prevent job losses. Meanwhile economists have expressed concern over the impact of planned preemptive load-shedding which is likely to be resumed at the end of the month.

Economist Tony Twine says a resumption of load-shedding will impact negatively on economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation.