Ways for Eskom to fix the mess it’s in

THE full extent of Eskom’s plight is barely believable.

First, Hitachi-Mitsubishi and the other contractors should be sued to remedy all faulty construction at Medupi and Kusile at their own expense.

Second, it is useless to build the as yet unconstructed modules at Medupe and Kusile until after their design flaws have been remedied.

Third, Eskom needs to radically step up its preventative maintenance at all its older power stations.

Fourth, Eskom’s peaking stations, such as Ankerlig and Gourikwa, need to be used for many more hours than intended.

This makes it financially urgent for Eskom to arrange for gas supplies to them, instead of now using much more expensive diesel oil.

This is one obvious way Eskom can reduce its running expenses.

Fifth, these peaking stations are open cycle turbines. They need to be upgraded to become more efficient closed cycle turbines.

Sixth, trade unions have the right and duty to state their members’ concerns about retrenchments, due to the talk about Eskom being overstaffed.

It should be mandatory that every retrenchment package includes a full-cost bursary for the worker to enroll at a TVET college while living off UIF.

Where a TVET course takes more than one year, the UIF should be extended until the worker’s graduation as a fitter and turner, welder, or electrician.