Ramokgopa Denies Claims That Loadshedding Reprieve Was Due To Excessive Diesel Burning

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said that Eskom's Energy Availability Factor (EAF) has exceeded 70% for the first time in three years, even as only ZAR53.4mn was spent on diesel used to power the Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs) last week.

• Loadshedding has been suspended for nearly 50 days already, with Eskom and Nersa pushing back against accusations that it was possible due to short-term solutions implemented ahead of the elections on May 29.
• In line with the arguments of a number of critics, former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter claimed that a reprieve from power cuts has been made possible by "pouring money into diesel at a rate of knots."
• Ramokgopa said that the use of OCGTs last week was lower than in the same period last year and insisted that the positive EAF trend has been supported by solid performance from the country's coal fleet as well as solar during the day.
• According to Ramokgopa, Eskom's EAF was at 70.78% currently, at 64.34% month-to-date, and at 59.92% year-to-date. The minimum EAF set by national energy regulator Nersa is 65%.
• Crippling power cuts have been one of the key challenges for the South African economy and a major political issue as well. It may be expected that ANC officials will be trying to play up the recent pause in power cuts in the lead-up to the election.