Eskom load-shedding: Government working on blackout reductions

Government has said what we all perhaps want to hear, Eskom’s load-shedding blackouts could result in a significant decrease, the state said on Wednesday 3 November.

GOVERNMENT WORKING CLOSELY WITH EMBATTLED POWER UTILITY

According to the Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, the state has had a sit-down with the national energy provider to find actions to reduce South Africa’s blackouts.

Following a cabinet sitting, Gungubele said the government has felt rising ‘awareness’ on the trouble and disruption the public has suffered.

“Cabinet acknowledges the disruptions and inconvenience of intermittent load-shedding experienced by South Africans in recent days,” the note said.

“The Department of Public Enterprises is working closely with the Board of Eskom and management to ensure that we limit the daily duration of load-shedding and the period for which this intervention will be required.”

ESKOM LOAD-SHEDDING SUPPORT PLAN

The government said the National Treasury is supporting the power utility towards finding solutions that include re-employing added skilled personnel.

One of the central solutions will be the introduction of a “new power generation capacity online in the shortest possible time.”

“National Treasury is working with Eskom to grant it the appropriate exemptions to acquire the spare parts needed for repairs and maintenance,” the statement added.

“The interventions include lifting the threshold for companies to produce their own electricity without a licence to 100 megawatts (MW).

“While Cabinet is aware that the current energy challenges are frustrating and counterproductive to economic growth, it is confident that the practical actions government is taking to restructure and strengthen our electricity system will eventually improve the country’s energy capacity,” the briefing concluded.

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