Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says the shortest path to resolving loadshedding is to improve the performance of the installed coal fleet for Eskom in line with the Energy Action Plan, unveiled by President Cyril Ramaphosa in July 2022 which emphasises the need to fix Eskom. Ramokgopa was briefing the media on the progress of the Energy Action Plan in Pretoria, saying the purpose of the brief was to elaborate on the big steps that they intend to take to address the country's energy crisis.

BIG STEPS 

Ramokgopa said they have been met with a couple of challenges concerning the performance of the generating units. He said there is a need to ensure that they fix Eskom. That articulation derives from the fact that the shortest path to the resolution of loadshedding is to improve the performance of the installed coal fleet for the power utility. Ramokgopa added that they have also decided to strengthen their relationship with manufacturers so that they improve the availability of spare parts and expertise. "We already have contracts with them from a maintenance point of view to strengthen that relationship. The Head of Generation, Bheki Nxumalo, is working with the original equipment manufacturers to ensure that they remain engaged." he said.

PROCURING PARTS WITH SPEED

He said the second area of intervention is the need to ensure the degree of speed in procuring and maintaining their generating units. He said they have been besieged by several challenges about the performance of the units. He added that they are also solving the problem of regulation that applies to a procurement environment in the public sector and another outcome of the Energy Action Plan is to accelerate investment by the private sector such as rooftop solar panels in households. Eskom has suspended daytime blackouts until further notice while Stage 2 load shedding returned this afternoon at 4pm.