By: Natasha Archary
While President Cyril Ramaphosa is enjoying a cup of royal tea, government is scrambling around to find the money for Eskom’s diesel demands.
The failing power utility which has already received a $24 billion government bailout, is now too broke to buy diesel which is reportedly necessary to keep the lights on.
As a result, experts say the country is at risk of a total blackout if Eskom does not refuel its open cycle gas turbines (OCGTs).
This after the state-owned entity said over the weekend that its OCGTs diesel tanks are completely depleted and cannot be refuelled.
Eskom says it has exerted its budget on diesel already for this financial year and will only be able to refuel the diesel tanks on 01 April 2023.
However, with South Africa currently experiencing the worst rolling blackouts in history, the prediction is that the country will be plunged into total darkness if government fails to secure the money for diesel.
In a statement issued earlier this week, the Department of Public Enterprises said that government and Eskom will find the money for diesel.
“The DPE is urgently working with National Treasury and Eskom to find the money to buy supplies of diesel. In addition the DPE will be engaging Eskom to look for savings within the existing Eskom funds for the ongoing purchase of diesel and maintenance.”
Statement: Government and Eskom will find money for diesel pic.twitter.com/afi8ynXzzU
— DPE_ZA (@DPE_ZA) November 20, 2022
Over the weekend, Eskom implemented Stage 5 loadshedding and has since downgraded to alternate between Stages 2 and 4 throughout the week.
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