Eskom, the beleaguered national electricity utility of South Africa, which is on an active bailout route, is plagued by multiple issues stemming from poor planning, dilapidated machinery, lack of right expertise to turnaround and of course, a large number of workforce, whose productivity is arguably very low.
The preponderance of these problems are casting their own shadows on the working of the power utility and also in restructuring its operations. For instance, the working of Kroeber nuclear power station is in disarray with three of its turbines at two open cycle gas turbines on the west and south coast have suffered series of breakdowns. Various power stations in the northern parts of the country also faced shutdowns and outages. But experts rule out a total breakdown on account of the in-built mechanisms to prevent any massive shutdown.
The other reason for the constant power lock out is low stocks of coal. Incidentally, early this week had seen the 6th stage of power lock out implemented for the first time. This is compounded by the constant repair of the leaking boiler tubes, generator leaks, tripped turbines, gear failures, steam pipe failures and high turbine vibrations. Power stations most affected are Kendal in Mpumalanga (low levels of coal), Camden and Matla in Mpumalanga (boiler tube repairs) and Lethabo in the Free State (high steam pipe failure). Half of Koerberg’s total generating capacity of around 1800MW is out of commission because of planned maintenance, and that the planned date for the resumption of full generation has been pushed out from mid-December to mid-January.
It is a good thing that the entire governance apparatus is glued to the developments at Eskom and there is some plan action on the anvil. But critics say that even now, there is any clear time bound strategy being rolled out by the government to salvage the situation except announcements and ideas that are being floated around. Till actions are rolled out in right earnest, one cannot expect much from the situation. But all said, power is also a political and emotive issue, no matter whether the government can take umbrage under the plea that it s a legacy problem and their involvement in making the situation complex is practically nil. But as a political party ANC cannot absolve itself the responsibility since all the mismanagement happened during the rule of their party only.
