Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented at 05:00 to 16:00 from Tuesday, followed by Stage 5 load shedding at 16:00 to 05:00 from Wednesday, Eskom warned. Over the course of this week, 14 generators are expected to return to service, helping to ease the pressure on the power system, the utility said.
Eskom has postponed outgoing CEO André de Ruyter’s planned briefing on Monday evening due to an emergency meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa. “Unfortunately Eskom has had to postpone this afternoon’s media briefing due to emergency engagements with the President,” spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said in a statement. “While we aim to hold the media briefing as soon as possible, the date and time can only be confirmed once meetings with the President are concluded.” Ramaphosa cancelled his trip to the World Economic Forum’s gathering in Davos, Switzerland this week to deal with SA’s energy crisis. Ramaphosa is also expected to meet leaders of political parties represented in parliament and the National Energy Crisis Committee.
In a response to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) recent decision to grant tariff increases of 18.65% and 12.74% respectively for Eskom’s 2024 and 2025 financial years, the utility indicated that the hikes would be implemented on April 1 once the regulator “made a decision on the restructuring of its tariffs, as submitted during August 2020 and 2022”. Engineering News editor Terence Creamer approached Eskom GM for regulation Hasha Tlhotlhalemaje and corporate specialist for electricity pricing Shirley Salvoldi for an explanation on the implications of the statement, including whether the increases might not be implemented in the absence of tariff restructuring. Tlhotlhalemaje and Salvoldi’s responses are outlined below.
The rand dropped on Monday after President Cyril Ramaphosa cancelled a trip to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos to deal with the country’s energy crisis, as struggling state utility Eskom’s worst ever power cuts continued. The rand traded at 17.065 against the dollar at 09:30 GMT, 1.29% weaker than its previous close and its weakest level since December 1.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) says chairperson Thembani Bukula is not conflicted, as he had resigned from his position as nonexecutive director of JSE-listed infrastructure special purpose acquisition company Mahube Infrastructure upon his appointment as Nersa chairperson. “The comments made on social media platforms alleging that Bukula has a conflict of interest are incorrect and misleading,” the regulator states.
South Africa should ensure the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting conversation in Davos, Switzerland, this week reinforces the country’s just energy transition plan, and that it achieves international solidarity across business and political spheres to ensure they are part of the project of decarbonising the country’s economy, while ensuring energy security and supporting development, said business lobby Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso. South Africa advanced plans for a Just Energy Transition Partnership with several developed countries to provide $8.5-billion to support the country’s energy transition at the twenty-seventh United Nations Conference of the Parties in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in November last year.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has cancelled his “working trip” to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) gathering in Davos, Switzerland. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya posted a message to Twitter on Sunday announcing the cancellation.
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