No leave for Eskom execs

Senior managers will be assigned to power stations around the country during the festive season to pinpoint problems and come up with solutions to reduce the effects of the electricity crisis.

Eskom bosses have had their festive season leave cancelled and ordered by Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan to go to power stations countrywide to pinpoint what is causing the current power crisis and reduce its effects.

Gordhan expressed confidence there would be no load shedding over the festive period.

He said while Eskom had the capacity to produce 47 000 megawatts, it currently could only use 26 000MW to 27 000MW. Between 9 000MW and 11 500MW was not contributing to the grid due to generating units being repaired to avoid breakdowns.

Gordhan is implementing a weekly plan until end January – and senior management will be assigned to different power stations, to get a sense of what’s happening on the ground.

He stressed Eskom was one of the state-owned enterprises worst affected by state capture, and that fixing the mess would take time.

Gordhan also said Eskom was not communicating properly when it came to load shedding.

“Sending out a tweet is not how it’s done,” he said.

The minister urged former Eskom managers to refrain from commenting on developments at the energy provider.

“Leave us alone to do our work,” he said.

Former Eskom interim CEO Matshela Koko, who has been vocal about the energy provider, is clearly not heeding Gordhan’s request. He tweeted his observations throughout the briefing, including his belief that Gordhan is “talking nonsense”.

The cash-strapped power supplier is seeking a fresh R100 billion injection from government. Its spokesperson, Khulu Phasiwe, dismissed as “incorrect” a perception that coal was behind the latest power outages that have adversely affected the economy.

“It is certainly not coal, but a maintenance backlog at our power stations.”

His response followed assertions by the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) chief executive officer, Anna-Marth Ott, who has claimed coal mined was not being collected by Eskom.

Ott was concerned the coal shortage theory created a negative investor confidence in SA – contrary to the latest MCCI survey which pointed to coal abundance. She said the MCCI annually surveyed data received from coal mines in the region.

“Our recent survey showed there are 170 mines – mostly coal mines in the area. Therefore, the phrase ‘coal shortage’ should be amended to reflect the correct situation.” But Phasiwe said the increase in unplanned power outages were a result of “breakdowns”.

To keep power stations operating at optimum level, they require regular maintenance, he said.

“It is due to this problem that Eskom is about to formally approach government for R100 billion assistance.

“Eskom has put aside over R11 billion to start clearing the maintenance backlog, which should be completed in 12 months, making a 20-day coal supply at the power stations possible – a better position than now. But that does not mean people are likely to see load shedding daily. We’re already seeing progress.”