By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says African National Congress (ANC) is recommending that Eskom delays the decommissioning of its ageing coal-fired power stations to help minimise rolling blackouts.
He was speaking at the party’s four-day National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Boksburg on Saturday, the minister hastened to add however that this did not mean the country would abandon its climate commitments under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) plan. Ramokgopa said the ANC acknowledged that South Africa was facing an energy crisis. State-owned Eskom is implementing rolling blackouts of about 10 hours a day as it struggles to meet electricity demand.
The United States, Britain, France, Germany and the European Union have pledged a combined $8.5 billion investment to back South Africa’s plan to phase out fossil fuel use, but President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that the total cost could prove ten times higher.
South Africa is the world’s 12th biggest emitter of climate-warming gases and is heavily reliant on coal – the most polluting fossil fuel – for electricity generation.
Ramokgopa has drafted an electricity action plan aimed at reducing the severity of rolling blackouts as the country teeters between Stage 6 and Stage 4 for load shedding.
He presented a report to the NEC after embarking on a nationwide tour inspecting power stations in his capacity as Minister of Electricity.
Ramakgopa provided feedback related to four interventions to address the power crisis which include the continued use of diesel to generate electricity, addressing energy availability factors, ramping up of generation while reducing demand, and the isolation of critical sectors including, hospitals, prisons, police stations and others.
“Unfortunately, is not possible to end load shedding tomorrow, and technically not possible to end load shedding by the end of 2023,” he said.
“That is why we are in pains to illustrate the kind of steps we are taking – the winter period now and the next six months and going into 18 months. But we will do everything possible to ensure that its intensity is not as severe so that we get the economy going.”
Ramokgopa also refuted reports that load shedding was silently implemented at stage 8 already.
He says they have set aside at least R30 billion aside for diesel procurement at Eskom.
It’s understood meanwhile that the Electricity Regulation Amendment, which must bring the 2006 law up to date, remains with state law advisers, ostensibly to knock into shape a piece of legislation that’s been poorly drafted, and also to ensure proper certification.
The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy did not indicate a date by which the Amendment Bill would be tabled in Parliament.
While parliamentary lawmaking could be rushed, or expedited, as the jargon goes, it’s unlikely this draft law will pass in both Houses of Parliament ahead of the 2024 elections, which, at the latest, must happen in early August 2024.
Other discussions to be held by the ANC’s national executive committee at its four-day meeting include its approach to coalitions with other parties ahead of the national elections next year and the reconfiguration of the ANC-led alliance with the SA Communist Party and labour union federation Cosatu.