Eskom to present 2020 annual report to SCOPA

Power utility Eskom is expected to present its 2020 annual report to Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) today.

It will also present a report on the outcome of investigations that the Special Investigating Unit has conducted.

Eskom says the engagement with SCOPA is an opportunity for the committee to examine the organisation on these matters.

It says the process was delayed on numerous occasions. In a separate event in the afternoon, Eskom will publish its 2021 financial results to the public in Johannesburg.

Green financing

Earlier in August, Eskom said it hopes to unlock around R150-billion in green financing from international development agencies to finance a transition from coal to renewable energy.

The move is part of Eskom’s commitment to significantly reduce its carbon footprint.

South Africa is the 12th largest carbon emitter globally and Eskom is responsible for 40% of the country’s greenhouse gases.

Speaking at a memorial lecture at the University of Pretoria, Eskom CEO Andre de Ryter said the gradual decommissioning of a number of power stations over the next 10 to 30 years is a central part of the transition.

De Ryter says it has become harder to secure funding for new coal projects.

He says Eskom hopes to secure billions of rands in green projects financing before the COP26 conference in November.

According to the Integrated Resource Plan, Eskom has committed to shutting down its coal-fired power stations by 2050.

Coal-fired power

Eskom also said it plans to reduce its output of coal-fired power by 8 000 to 12 000 MW through plant closures over the next decade, a cut that amounts to up to 30% of its current capacity.

The mothballed Komati power station, brought back to service in the early 2000s to help deal with chronic electricity shortages in Africa’s most advanced economy, will be completely closed by October next year, Eskom said on Twitter.