South Africa's Electricity Minister Provides Updates on Energy Action Plan Implementation

In a video released on April 22, 2024, South Africa's Electricity Minister, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, provided updates on the implementation of the country's Energy Action Plan. The Minister highlighted the recent three-week period without load shedding as a result of concerted efforts by Eskom and the government to address the issue.

Minister Ramokgopa noted significant improvements in Eskom's performance, with a reduction in the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) and an increase in the available generation capacity. "While progress has been made, there is still more work to be done, and load shedding may still occur due to the need to maintain the reliability of the power system," the Minister stressed.

The Energy Action Plan also includes accelerating renewable energy projects to contribute to the country's power supply. Looking ahead, the Minister expressed confidence in the recovery of several generating units, including Medupi Unit 4, Koeberg Unit 2, and Kusile Unit 6, which are expected to come online in the coming months, adding an additional 2,580MW to the Eskom fleet.

Why this matters: South Africa has been struggling with an ongoing energy crisis, characterized by frequent load shedding, which has had a negative impact on the country's economy and the daily lives of its citizens. The successful implementation of the Energy Action Plan is vital for ensuring a stable and reliable power supply, which is essential for economic growth and development.

Earlier on April 22, 2024, Minister Ramokgopa briefed the media on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan at the Ronnie Mamoepa Media Centre in Pretoria. The briefing was live-streamed on Facebook, with media members required to RSVP by April 21, 2024.

Key Takeaways

• South Africa's Energy Action Plan aims to address ongoing energy crisis.
• Recent 3-week period without load shedding due to Eskom and govt efforts.
• Eskom's performance improved, with reduced UCLF and increased generation capacity.
• Renewable energy projects being accelerated to boost power supply.
• Several generating units expected to come online, adding 2,580MW to Eskom fleet.