Agri SA urges farmers to support electricity-saving measures

Agri SA president Johannes Möller has expressed the organisation's support for Eskom's request to limit electricity use. This follows an information session with agriculture in which Eskom provided particulars regarding the expected demand for electricity over the next two months.

Eskom's electricity-generation capacity has been hampered by unplanned factors to such an extent that the institution was obliged for the first time during the winter months to do essential repairs to power generation units, which severely limits Eskom's reserves.

Möller said that given the distinctive nature of agriculture, the sector's ability to save power is linked to biological processes around animal production, crop irrigation and the need for an uninterrupted cold chain for fruit destined for the export market. Because of this, agriculture is exempt from the 10% saving expected from the rest of the economy.

"I call on my fellow farmers to make use of Eskom's time-of-use tariff options and to use electricity outside peak times insofar as this is possible. Where possible, farmers are also advised not to use heavy electric equipment during peak times from 5pm to 9pm," urged Möller.

"It is every citizen's responsibility to take Eskom's saving campaign seriously and to support it in order to avoid the possibility of load shedding," he added.