Eskom admits: There is a coal crisis
Eskom has confirmed that ten of its power stations currently have less than twenty days of coal supply left.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has been informed of the regulations violation pertaining to Eskom's low reserves.
According to NERSA regulations, Eskom needs to have a minimum of 20 days of coal supply at all time.
#Eskom has confirmed that 10 of its power stations currently have less than 20 days of coal supply left.
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) September 17, 2018
"We are doing everything possible to avoid the risk of load shedding and stations running out of coal," says Eskom spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe.
According to Phasiwe, Eskom is in the process of signing twelve new contracts for the supply of coal.
The state-owned enterprise says it is also awaiting approval from local authorities to transfer coal from the Medupi power station in Limpopo to stations in Mpumalanga.
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Officials raised concerns over the impact on the road network, with Phasiwe saying they have applied to create dirt roads to transport the coal between the provinces.
Railway transporter, Transnet, has also been roped in.
Phasiwa admits that the diverting of coal from other stations is not a permanent solution to the problem.
The coal shortage has been attributed to the previously owed Gupta company, Tegeta - currently under business rescue.
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"The trigger was Tegeta experiencing problems. They are currently under business rescue. They are supplying three power station within Eskom. They have been unbale to supply us with coal."