Eskom has launched three power purchase programmes to boost South Africa’s energy supply, but they are not immediate.
In a media statement on Monday (19 September), the national power utility announced that its new procurement programmes would focus on generators capable of supplying more than one megawatt to the grid.
Eskom added that, over time, smaller producers would also be able to participate in providing energy capacity to the state-owned entity.
“The combined impact of the programmes predicted to exceed 1,000MW will make an important contribution towards reducing the load shedding burden on consumers.”
The initial power supply agreement is set to be signed this week, with power to flow through the grid as soon as possible.
The programmes include:
- Standard Offer Programme: to procure power from companies with existing generation capacity for three years.
- Emergency Generation Programme: to procure more expensive power during periods when the grid is significantly constrained. The programme allows independent generators to provide energy daily to compete with the Eskom generators in the internal market.
- Bilateral Power Import Programme: to secure imports of power to the country from neighbouring countries. Several countries have expressed an interest in selling additional surplus power to South Africa – this programme will allow for such opportunities.
Despite these planned programmes, Eskom’s CEO Andre de Ruyter, on Sunday (17 September), said that not all of the power would be available as soon as possible.
“Not all of that is immediately available. Some of that relies on suppliers having to replenish their coal bunkers or secure additional gas supply.”
“But in the case of IPPs (independent power producers), we have a very high degree of confidence that we can urgently procure more megawatts,” he added.
South Africa has recently been thrust deeper into load shedding, with stage 5 being implemented on Monday (19 September) after several power stations were returned to service overnight – after a stint of stage 6.
The minister of public enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, said that Eskom’s operational challenges remain an issue and concern for the country.
According to Eskom, planned outages are currently at 5,411MW, while breakdowns currently amount to 16,326MW.
His department noted that load shedding must be recognised as disastrous for households, businesses and the economy.
Gordhan said that all efforts are being directed toward returning megawatts lost due to unplanned breakdowns and outages.
“We have mobilised the full resources of our teams together with Eskom to address this immediate challenge of load shedding.”
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