Eskom Sets New Record Pace for Outages & Diesel Usage in May

LOCAL NEWS

• Eskom sets a new record pace for outages and diesel usage in May – reaching an average of stage 2 load-shedding every 2.3 days, despite extensive use of diesel fired, expensive, open cycle gas turbines. Unplanned outages are now approaching 30% with maintenance higher than last year – Business Insider
• Eskom warns of additional load-shedding (power outages) this week as the system is under severe strain during peak hours. Two stations returned to operations yesterday, but this is not sufficient to alleviate stage 2 load-shedding - EWN
• Minerals Council of SA says that coal, iron ore, and chrome companies missed out on roughly R35 billion last year from contracted volumes that couldn’t reach ports.
  • The council stressed that the mining industry, the fiscus and the rail and port operator would forgo any benefit from commodity prices by not exporting minerals to SA’s full potential. SA currently accounts for close to 1% of global mining exploration and has been deemed one of the ten least attractive jurisdictions for mining investment. - MoneyWeb
• During the closing address at the ANC’s provincial elective conference in East London Ramaphosa warned against purging political opponents while preaching for unity within the factional ANC. He also said that job creation should be the focus of the ANC in the area as the province is one of the country’s poorest, with an unofficial unemployment rate exceeding 50%.
  • Additionally, newly-elected Eastern Cape Premier Mbuyane voiced his support for Ramaphosa’s second term as ANC president - News24, EWN