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Molefe's ambitious winter plan for load shedding - As it happened

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Eskom’s Acting Chief Executive Brian Molefe. (Photo: Chris Yelland)
Eskom’s Acting Chief Executive Brian Molefe. (Photo: Chris Yelland)
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17 Jun 2015

The risk of a total power blackout in South Africa at any point in future is “out of the question”, acting Eskom CEO Brian Molefe said on Wednesday.

Read Thomas Hartleb's full story

17 Jun 2015

Brian Molefe's full presentation:

17 Jun 2015

South African power utility Eskom has trebled the amount of winter maintenance it is doing this year to prevent generating units from breaking down and putting greater strain on the grid, its acting chief executive said on Wednesday. Brian Molefe told a news conference Eskom would have 5 500 MW of capacity down for maintenance during the winter months, out of total installed capacity of around 43 000 MW. - Reuters.

17 Jun 2015

Molefe said earlier: While there is expected to be sufficient power supply to meet demand for most part of the day, in winter the load increase could be up to 36 000MW particularly over the short sharp evening peak between 17:30 and 18:30. The increase is predominantly due to the use of electric heaters, geysers and cooking that takes place during this time.

17 Jun 2015

Energy regulator Nersa should reject Eskom’s request for a further electricity tariff increase because it is grossly unfair to the poor, say SA's Catholic bishops.
FULL STORY

17 Jun 2015

17 Jun 2015

Milestones for Eskom: The super hydro test was done successfully at Kusile, and further tests were done at Medupi.

17 Jun 2015

Daniel Silke on Molefe’s tariff threat:  It is his job to try to make a case for the increases. Clearly, any such increase will further stifle the economy, dampen FDI, reign in the consumer and add to already high levels of personal debt. Molefe is trying to show he is steering the ship in the right direction but the carrot has a stick and that's the proposed increases!

17 Jun 2015

From Political analyst Daniel Silke:  A semblance of urgency seems to have crept into the latest update from Brian Molefe. Ultimately, the serious effects on the domestic economy only a year before local elections seem to be forcing Government to finally develop new strategies and take some pressure off power-starved South Africans. Both maintenance issues and new capacity need to show substantial signs of improvement by the beginning of next year or power will become a highly contentious local government election issue. The imperative of both politics and declining economic fortunes now seem to be at last hitting home to government.

17 Jun 2015

Molefe: We have an extremely competent executive at Eskom. The projections at the start of the year were very negative regarding load shedding, but even before my arrival, there was electricity available.

17 Jun 2015

17 Jun 2015

Molefe answers Chris Yelland: Theoretical presentation of how we can do maintenance without load shedding. It is conceptual. I know you are innately skeptical... I have been going over your analysis for the past 6 months. I have not seen anything that is constructive. I always take what you say with a spoon of salt.

17 Jun 2015

This is the timeline that Eskom is embarking on.

17 Jun 2015

Molefe: We can fine tune the system to the most maintenance as possible while keeping the lights on at its maximum. That's the juggling act we have to do. I agree, they're contradictory, but they can be done.

17 Jun 2015

Molefe: It is possible to have "keeping the lights on" and doing "maintenance at all costs" as two objectives working together.

17 Jun 2015

Molefe said that the tariff increases were needed to avert further load shedding and that South Africans could experience stage 2 load shedding if Eskom didn't get the money it requested.

17 Jun 2015

One of those critics is Chris Yelland. “All these increases that Eskom is trying to get passed through to the customer are actually a result of Eskom’s own failings,” said Yelland, who submitted his own application against Eskom's bid. LISTEN TO HIS FULL INTERVIEW:

17 Jun 2015

Molefe: If SA is not willing to put forward R15bn for tariff increases, then load shedding will be worse and the economy will suffer more than R15bn.

17 Jun 2015

Molefe: The real increase is only 6.8% from the base.

17 Jun 2015

Molefe says analysts slamming 25% Eskom tariff request are being dishonest.

17 Jun 2015

Molefe: Tariff application - our actual application is 6.8% on the base of what we do. Then we applied for additional money for diesel to avoid load shedding. We were only granted R1.5bn, which is not enough - we use it in one month. It is finished. If we don't get an addition R10bn for the rest of the year, then we will go into load shedding quicker. We will find a way around it. We were also granted R14bn for IPPs for connection, which we don't have a problem with. There is an environmental levy, which is not for us. The extra money is for extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves in.

17 Jun 2015

Chris Yelland has asked Brian Molefe: How will you avert load shedding with just over 2000MW to spare if you are doing 5 500MW of planned maintenance during winter.

17 Jun 2015

Molefe: We will avoid load shedding in the day and during the week to avoid impacting businesses, so if it needs to occur expect it in peak times before 10am and after 5pm and on the weekends.

17 Jun 2015

Molefe says there is a change to the stages of load shedding, whereby stage 3 will mean 3 000 MW and not 4 000MW.

17 Jun 2015

Molefe: We will continue to keep the nation informed through local and regional media.

17 Jun 2015

Molefe: They have found an interim solution at Majuba Power Station. Eskom can run all the units of 3800MW at full load. Investigation at Majuba has been concluded and will be presented to board.

17 Jun 2015

Molefe: Localised outages and illegal connections generally increase during winter due to increased demand and hence cause greater stress on the system.
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