Electricity and Energy Minister, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has announced that Eskom’s unplanned functionality loss issue (UCLF) has considerably improved, indicating that the system is changing into more healthy.

‘Significant’

“If you look at what the UCLF recorded over the past seven days, you see that we’ve been averaging at about 10 500 megawatts, essentially 10 500 megawatts of capacity that is installed was not available on account of various reasons. [These include] the units failing and units not performing at their optimal capacity. If you had to compare this with the same period last year, it’s an improvement of about 5 000 megawatts. 

“That’s significant, and that’s why we have been able to keep the lights on [for a] very considerable period,” Ramokgopa defined on Monday. 

The Minister was briefing media in Pretoria on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) programme as a part of his common power safety updates. 

“It’s important that we’re able to consistently improve this kind of result. And of course, in numbers, it means that there’s less and less reliance on diesel to power our electricity requirement.”

Starting from 1 April to 17 October 2023, Eskom spent about R18 billion to forestall energy cuts, down by R12 billion in comparison with the identical interval this yr. 

“There’s less reliance on diesel. And if you look at the open cycle gas turbines (OCGT) load factor, the percentage of time that we’re relying on these at the same period last year, we were sitting at about 8.95% and this year, we were sitting at about 4.59%,” Ramokgopa stated.

The Minister believes that this speaks to the development of Eskom’s programs, which he acknowledged can be handed on to the top shopper. 

Load shedding

Ramokgopa stated it was an “anomaly” to rejoice the very fact that there have been 208 days of no load shedding. 

“That should be the standard… The standard is that there shouldn’t be any load shedding, and the standard should further suggest that we should not rely on expensive fuel sources to keep the lights on.

“This is not an achievement but a step in the right direction. An achievement will be when there’s no load shedding and [we] can use a cheaper form of existing generation for us to keep the lights on. And that’s where the Independent Power Producer programme comes in.” 

IPP programme

Shifting his focus to the IPP programme, Ramokgopa stated that the programme has procured 15 432 megawatts of renewable power since its inception in 2011, with 8 231 megawatts at present out there to be evaluated and 1 897 megawatts below building.

Ramokgopa stated the seventh administration plans to be aggressive in procurement, with interventions to enhance the programme’s construction and effectivity.

The renewable power tasks are concentrated within the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and the Eastern Cape, leveraging optimum renewable power sources.

In addition, the Minister stated this transfer has created 85 800 job alternatives and contributed considerably to native economies, with a deal with socio-economic transformation.

Ramokgopa introduced that the venture has seen important market confidence, with worldwide and home investments totalling R272 billion. 

The focus, he burdened, is on making electrical energy era extra inexpensive and aggressive, to scale back reliance on costly gas sources.

“The focal point of the ministry is to ensure that we can reduce the cost of electricity in the country, make businesses competitive, and ensure that [sustain power] in households.”

Are you impressed or skeptical of the enhancements at Eskom?

Let us know by clicking on the remark tab under this text or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1

You also can observe @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the newest information.