New delay in emergency power deals, govt confirms

Johanesburg –South Africa’s plan to add an estimated R95 billion worth of private power generation has been further delayed. The signing of power purchase agreements by preferred bidders for the 2 000 megawatt emergency power programme was postponed due to “outstanding matters and conditions” with Eskom, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy confirmed. Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe in February 2019 predicted that a programme to source up to half of that amount could be online within two years, though no new projects have been added to the grid.