No blackouts foreseen but use power wisely

Energy Minister Ben Martins. Image: GCIS

"We are still busy with the maintenance of the power plants but this is slowly reducing as the demand for electricity increases and at the moment things are under control. If we do have a problem in winter it will be for a short sharp peak in the evening and that's not generally a rolling blackout scenario," Eskom's spokesman Andrew Etzinger said.

He said Eskom was in good shape at this stage, but added that the electricity supply remained tight and that energy efficiency and demand management remained an important aspect in regulating power supply.

Earlier, Energy Minister Ben Martins said that energy security is a pertinent issue and the roll-out of alternative power will help to alleviate supply problems.

Referring to the fleet of power stations, Martins said that most of South Africa's power stations are old and need to be replaced.

According to Marins, only 14% of South Africans lack access to electricity and that physical difficulties, such as the terrain were among the issues that had prevented universal access.

"People shouldn't be punished for staying in rural areas," he said. "We need to get electricity to them," he added.