SA needs comprehensive energy transmission plan - Ramokgopa | City Press - News24

SA needs comprehensive energy transmission plan - Ramokgopa | City Press

Minister of Electricity

Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has reiterated government's dedication to finding lasting solutions to load shedding.

Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria on the progress of the energy action plan, Ramokgopa assured South Africans that significant progress was being made in collaboration with competent engineers at Eskom and the board's leadership.

Addressing the press on Sunday, Ramokgopa stated: "I want to give you confidence that we are going to resolve this; it's an engineering problem. I eat, breathe and sleep solutions to load shedding, and I'm confident that, with the team that is helping us, we will be able to resolve load shedding."

He added:

Despite government projections of reaching highs of 34 000 megawatts during winter, the country has not reached this level of usage.

The minister attributed this to a change in the attitude of South Africans and industries, who have actively reduced their electricity demand.

Ramokgopa provided an update on the previous five-day average, ending on June 30 this year, stating that the current available capacity has begun to plateau at around 29 913 megawatts compared with the 28 664 megawatts of capacity available on June 26.

"We are making significant improvements of about 1 300 megawatts, and what is encouraging for me is that we are beginning to maintain that," Ramokgopa said.

READ: Eskom's improved energy availability factor reduces load shedding - Ramokgopa

He further highlighted that the country was keeping up with the demand, resulting in significant periods of the day without load shedding.

However, the minister emphasised the need to ensure that generation capacity surpassed demand.

"In that way, we would be able to pull a number of units through planned maintenance and we would be able to build a buffer so that, as the economy continues to grow and recover, we would have sufficient generation capacity."

Ramokgopa also stressed the importance of addressing partial load losses, an area receiving attention.

READ: Eskom's new grid connection rules will drive energy investors out of the country

Government is seeking external expertise to work with general managers at various stations to diagnose the root causes of failures and partial load losses.

The minister highlighted boiler tubes, coal quality and adherence to emission parameters as significant factors contributing to unit failures.

Furthermore, Ramokgopa acknowledged that transmission remained a vulnerable area that required urgent attention.

Improvements in transmission are crucial for integrating new generation capacity from renewable energies with optimal returns.

The minister said:

He explained that wind energy potential is concentrated in coastal areas of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, necessitating a comprehensive transmission development plan.

However, the challenge lies in securing adequate financial resources.

Ramokgopa emphasised the need for an innovative plan to address the transmission issue effectively.

He said government, together with Eskom, was actively working to find sustainable solutions to enhance the electricity transmission system and overcome the hurdles faced.

On Sunday, the power utility said that load shedding would remain suspended from midnight until 4pm till further notice, due to consistently available generation capacity.