Six power stations require urgent attention says Ramokgopa

Six power stations require urgent attention says Ramokgopa

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says six power stations including Thuthuka, Kendal, Kusile and Majuba need urgent attention ahead of winter.

Six power stations require urgent attention says Ramokgopa
X_KgosientshoRamokgopa

He updated the media today on the performance of the national grid and government’s Energy Action Plain.


 


"This arrangement is across the entire fleet of Eskom and not just isolated to particular stations but there are these stations that essentially over a period of time , they come across as being problematic therefore they require added attention", says Ramokgopa.


 


Ramokgopa says the power utility will introduce a mechanism called the Standard Offer Programme which will seek assistance from local and international markets to avail their access generation capacity. 


 


He says this will also help remove the procumbent ceiling so Eskom can produce more electricity.


 


"We had a ceiling of getting about a thousand megawatts which was going to run for a period of 2 years, and we have found that programme has been oversubscribed. 


 


"The team has gone to the board and now seeking an approval: The approval is to make sure that we remove the ceiling of a thousand because once we get to a thousand it means that we have met the original intent of the programme to procure an additional one thousand megawatts, so we are increasing the megawatts to 4000, Eskom board must still apply its mind but that is something that has been put forward".


 


Ramokgopa added that the Electricity Amendment Bill will reshape the landscape of South Africa's energy sector.


 


The bill is aimed at paving the way for the unbundling of Eskom.


 


It also provides for the creation of a transmission system operator and an open market platform that allows for competitive electricity trading.


 


Ramokgopa says one of the benefits of the Bill will help in lowering electricity prices.


 


"The introduction of multiple players, the introduction of competition, we are moving away from monopoly, Eskom continues to be a dominant player, Eskom will continue to play in new generation capacity. But there are also players that are coming in the space and the buyers will go procure the one that offers low tariffs so essentially the net effect, is that over a period of time you are likely going to see a reduction in electricity prices". 


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