Eskom set to disincentivise senior managers with poorly performing power stations
Eskom says it will disincentivise senior officials within its generation unit heading up poorly performing power stations.
This comes amid criticism of the power utility’s continuous failures.
Eskom is faced with a myriad of issues including excessive debt, ageing fleet, defective new plants and corruption.
Adding to the crisis at Megawatt Park is the utility’s dwindling generation capacity, culminating in rolling blackouts.
On Wednesday the country was plunged into stage 4 load shedding, from stage 2 in the previous days.
Government and Eskom management addressed media on these challenges ahead of the local government elections amid concerns the power cuts would affect polling on November 1.
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan vowed load shedding would be suspended over the weekend.
“What we can now tell you as a result of intensive discussions is that the following is likely to happen over the next few days: the first is that overnight some 2000MW of power will be returned to operations and as a result it is expected that the system will be downgraded from a level 4 load shedding to a level 3 load shedding.
“Then over tomorrow and Friday, a few more thousand units will be put back onto the system as a result of plants returning to operations and that will result from level 3 to level 2. Over the weekend, load shedding I’m told by Eskom management will stop,” Gordhan told media.
#Loadshedding | Gordhan says at least 2000MW will be brought back on line over night - this will allow for a downgrade to stage 3.
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) October 27, 2021
"By the weekend, there will be enough capacity to keep lights on ahead of elections." pic.twitter.com/dkKQuMthGw
He added senior managers would have to take accountability for the crisis.
“Just to reinforce the point of the performance of power station managers and operators, this afternoon the board and the senior management of Eskom have talked about and will shortly introduce new provisions which will ensure that pay will be directly related to performance.
“In other words, if your particular power station is not performing at the rate that is required of that it is capable of performing then the necessary consequences must actually follow,” said Gordhan.
It’s understood the pay variable will not affect members of the bargaining unit therefore will not change conditions of service for union members.
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