By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
State owned power utility Eskom has achieved the milestone of 200 consecutive days without load-shedding, highlighting the improved reliability and performance of its generation fleet.
The last time South Africa enjoyed such an extended period without load-shedding was from 8 September to 11 December, 2020.
It attributed the change to its Generation Operational Recovery Plan, which has helped reduce unplanned outages by 8.6% and improved the energy availability factor (EAF) by 7.7%, it said.
It further noted an expected improvement in Eskom’s financial performance for the 2025 financial year.
Group CEO Dan Marokane noted that on 18 October, Eskom was expected to reach 206 days without load shedding, a record last held in 2019.
Marokane said the results were due to “immense hard work” by Eskom employees.
Group head of generation Bheki Nxumalo said the current board had addressed an inherited crisis when it took office in 2022 with an independent probe and through consultation with management.
The power utility recently launched its long-awaited National Transmission Company, which will operate separately from its parent company.
The separation into three entities has been a crucial part of turnaround efforts at Eskom. The NTC is intended to provide open, fair and transparent grid access for public and private participants alike.
Eskom Board Chairperson, Mteto Nyati explained that to address the crisis the current Eskom Board inherited when they took office in October 2022, it conducted an independent investigation and consulted with power station management using a data-driven approach to create the Generation Recovery Plan.
Today’s achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team in implementing this plan. It demonstrates that with the right leadership, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment, we can overcome even the most daunting challenges.
“Eskom’s journey towards a stable and reliable power supply is well on track, and we remain focused on sustaining this progress for the benefit of all South Africans. The Eskom Board is grateful for the support and collaborative efforts of all our key stakeholders, including the government and the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) members which enabled us to reach this milestone today,” Nyati said.
The power utility said it remains focused on achieving financial and operational sustainability by implementing ongoing structural improvements to enhance the reliability of its generation fleet.
The target is to reach a 70% EAF by March 2025, which would not only ensure a stable energy supply but also reduce diesel expenditure.