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The power-starved South Africa is looking bleakly at the looming crisis as Eskom warned power cuts to continue. The continuing crisis has crippled trade and industry and is affecting public life in the country
The power-starved South Africa is looking bleakly at the looming crisis as Eskom warned power cuts to continue. The continuing crisis has crippled trade and industry and is affecting public life in the country. The state-owned company promised a Christmas Day reprieve from the unprecedented and prolonged blackouts. The country has been suffering for months mostly due to outdated coal-fired power stations, coupled with corruption and inefficient handling of the situation. Analysts say that the power cuts are going to continue for another few months, while the country has deployed forces to protect the power stations, fearing sabotage.
Electricity is generated mostly from the country’s coal. There is also a 40-year-old nuclear power plant near Cape Town, which will be decommissioned next year for repair and refurbishment work. This will deprive the grid of the required power. Outgoing Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter explained the power situation in the coming days would continue to be grim. He will be in office till March next year to ensure continuity of leadership. In the meantime, the government has started the search for his successor, who will have a tough task ahead.
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According to official estimates, South Africa would need between 4,000 and 6,000 MW of additional capacity for the grid. Currently, the total energy demand is about 25,000 MW. The country also has the commitment to export power to neighbouring countries. The outgoing CEO cited a lack of political will to reform the power sector and corruption as the major causes for the present state of the power situation in the country.
