Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, South Africa’s Electricity Minister, announced a considerable increase in generation capacity due to lower demand for power as warmer weather approaches.
Ramokgopa noted on Sunday in Hatfield, Pretoria, that the increase in capacity does not mean the end of load shedding, but rather confirms the team’s commitment to the long-term sustainability of reliable units.
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The current capacity available is increasing, reaching 29,000 MW. Although the stages of load shedding were accelerated during the winter, the less severe cold weather is projected to reduce demand.
“For long-term sustainability, it’s important to take out certain units as and when necessary, planned maintenance is necessary to induce the intensity of load shedding.
“It’s short-term pain, but long-term gain because when these units come back, they can sustain the level of performance for designed conditions,” Ramokgopa explained.
The minister also addressed the issues that towns confront when power outages occur outside of the load-shedding timetable.
Many towns are coping with financial constraints and prior Eskom obligations, as well as illicit connections that place further strain on already overburdened infrastructure.
To address these concerns, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has proposed debt relief measures for troubled municipalities. Furthermore, the government intends to work with the business sector to find solutions for underperforming power plants.
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Last Monday, Ramokgopa announced that his department had achieved a 56% aggregate success rate in implementing the president’s Energy Action Plan (EAP), helping to alleviate the energy crisis.
Eight of the 50 actions have been completed, 12 are delayed but progressing, and 20 are on track.
