AfriForum sues Eskom

Civil rights organisation AfriForum has decided to take legal action against ailing power utility Eskom for not making public the contract information for its service providers. AfriForum wants information on active contracts that Eskom has with various service providers, including coal suppliers and transport companies.
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Wind Industry Internship Programme doubles placements for 2023

The second Wind Industry Internship Programme (WIIP) will be doubling its placements this year, in addition to offering supplementary work readiness training for the first time. The programme supports the development of specialist skills that are needed to facilitate the exponential growth of the wind energy industry and support economic growth in South Africa.
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South Africa plans new law to accelerate power capacity

South Africa’s National Energy Crisis Committee, a body run by the office of President Cyril Ramaphosa, expects record power outages to ease as measures put in place, including a new law to fast-track plant development, take effect. The committee, of which several cabinet ministers are members, told business and labour leaders on Monday that a range of interventions have been made at a time when South Africans was enduring blackouts of as much as 12 hours a day.
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South Africa plans to end loadshedding in 12-18 months – Godongwana

South Africa has a plan to improve energy provision that will end the need for any power cuts within the next 12-18 months, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said on Monday. “Eventually in the next 12-18 months we will be able to say load-shedding is a thing of the past. That is the target,” Godongwana, told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Swiss resort of Davos.
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Eskom, Treasury at odds over diesel funds as loadshedding crisis deepens

As chronic loadshedding continues indefinitely, a behind-the-scenes dispute has broken out between National Treasury and Eskom over where the money should come from to buy more diesel.  The only immediate way to reduce loadshedding is for Eskom to burn diesel to power its open-cycle gas turbines. All other possible solutions to reduce loadshedding have a longer lead time of at least 18 months to two years. 
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Lawyers issue letter of demand to Eskom, Gordhan over loadshedding

Several high-profile lawyers, leaders, and NPOs have threatened Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan with legal action following their failure to provide a stable power supply to the country.  The letter issued to De Ruyter and Gordhan on Monday, was addressed by Mabuza Attorneys and at least six other law firms – Buthelezi Vilakazi Inc, Makangela Mtungani Inc, Mketsu & Associates Inc, Mphahlele & Masipa Inc, Madlanga & Partners Inc and Ntanga Nkuhlu Inc Attorneys.
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Stage 4 and 5 loadshedding expected this week

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.
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Eskom postpones briefing due to ’emergency’ meeting with Ramaphosa

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.
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Eskom also wants tariff restructuring approved ahead of April 1 hike

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.
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Rand dives after Ramaphosa cancels Davos trip over energy crisis

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.
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