By: Natasha Archary
After a week of silence, President Cyril Ramaphosa says there’s no quick fix to the country’s power crisis.
In a statement issued by Presidency on Monday, 26 September, Ramaphosa said the significant challenge that Eskom faces is the average age of power stations, and that in the past critical maintenance was not undertaken at the necessary intervals.
With loadshedding crippling the South African economy and increasing frustration over the extended rolling blackouts, Ramaphosa assures South Africans that they are making strides in resolving the issue.
“Loadshedding is beyond an inconvenience. It has dire consequences for nearly every part of our society from education to public safety to the provision of health services.
Large and small businesses alike are losing money and the energy crisis is endangering investment and our economic recovery.”
President Ramaphosa addresses the power crisis
The President’s watered-down response does not give South Africans reassurance that an end is in sight, with Eskom announcing that Stage 3 loadshedding will continue for another week.
Ramaphosa says the unpredictability of Eskom’s fleet of coal-powered stations, means loadshedding will not be eliminated in the short term.
“In addressing the critical issue of coal supply, including working with Transnet on the transportation of coal and monitoring the consistency of the supply from collieries to station. Eskom is also addressing the poor quality of coal, which often leads to plant breakdowns. People with experience in running power stations are being brought back to help with plant operation, management and mentorship.
To ensure that critical maintenance is undertaken without delays, discussions are underway to ease local content requirements for spare parts and to use the equipment manufacturers to undertake maintenance.”
The President says Eskom has procured emergency power to address the immediate energy shortfall, launching power purchase programmes for 1000 megawatts of emergency capacity from companies with existing generation capacity, and to secure imports from neighbouring countries.
Ramaphosa did not suggest a change in the Eskom management or board is on the horizon, despite calls for Eskom CEO, Andre de Ruyter to step down.
Also read: Pitso Mosimane announced as new coach of Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli
