[African Utility Week] Eskom hopes to keep the lights on this winter

Eskom hopes to maintain its unbroken record over the years of not having to implement loadshedding during the winter months.

By Nicci Botha

13 May 2015

[African Utility Week] Eskom hopes to keep the lights on this winter

This will be realised if the power utility's plans to get Koeberg back online after routine maintenance by the end of the month go according to schedule.

Speaking at the African Utility Week in Cape Town on Tuesday, 12 May, Khulu Phasiwe, Eskom's spokesman, said the 930MW provided by Koeberg will contribute significantly to the 2000-3000MW cushion Eskom relies on to maintain the country's 43,000MW power grid and to avoid loadshedding.

In light of the conference's focus on regional cooperation and electricity supply, and the 20-year success of the Southern Africa Power Pool, Phasiwe pointed out that South Africa and the other member countries only sell electricity to pool when they have excess capacity. He added that Eskom would not sell on electricity to the detriment of its own supply.

African Utility Week is being held at the CTICC in Cape Town, 12-14 May 2015. For more info, go to www.african-utility-week.com.

Nicci Botha

About Nicci Botha

Nicci Botha has been wordsmithing for more than 20 years, covering just about every subject under the sun and then some. She's strung together words on sustainable development, maritime matters, mining, marketing, medical, lifestyle... and that elixir of life - chocolate. Nicci has worked for local and international media houses including Primedia, Caxton, Lloyd's and Reuters. Her new passion is digital media.