Eskom to continue exporting energy

Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin is adamant that Eskom will continue to export electricity to neighbouring countries, despite the power crisis.

He says increases in the price of electricity are inevitable, but may be phased in as opposed to a once-off increase. Erwin says the country cannot punish foreign customers away.

Erwin says Eskom's customers outside South Africa would be treated exactly like any other customer with the same rights and this will remain so. The amount SA exports is not large enough to be of major significance for its system in any event.

"Now, if I was in the Congo or Mozambique and some South African government, just when it had a crisis, chopped me off without any regard for the effect on me, I would make very certain that in future I'd do something similar to them. We've got to carry on treating people fairly," says Erwin.

Meanwhile, the upcoming energy summit will decide how to phase in the proposed increases. – Additional reporting by Sapa