DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO.: 1654
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 24 June 2011
1654. Mr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Public
Enterprises:â
(1) Whether he has any plans in place to prevent (a) the implementation of
load shedding and (b) lengthy interruptions in the supply of electricity in
the 2011 winter season; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the
relevant details, in each case;
(2) Whether he will make a statement on the matter? NW1861E
REPLY
(1) (a) To prevent load shedding, there are number of interventions that
Eskom has identified to ensure security of electricity supply, which
include:
⢠Commissioned 315 MW additional capacity from return-to-service (RTS)
programme;
⢠Maximise Eskom contracted imports, from Cahora Bassa to (1 500MW);
⢠Procurement of generation capacity from municipalities of about 400 MW
(200MW reliably available) and 373 MW from the medium-term power
purchase programme;
⢠Modifications to one of Eskom generators have yielded an additional 30
MW capacity;
⢠Maximisation of Generation plant availability (reduce maintenance over
winter);
⢠Internal Eskom energy savings pf 26.2 GWh against a Target = 24GWh;
⢠Accelerated energy efficiency (EE) and demand side management (DSM)
programme. The DSM programme has yielded 354 MW against financial year
target of 301 MW;and,
⢠Increased usage of emergency open cycle gas turbines (OCGTs).
(b) Eskom has instituted a quarterly power system alert briefing to the
public and has indicated that whilst the system is tight, it envisages
being able to mitigate any power supply shortages this winter. It has also
highlighted that the risks to the system are set to increase as we go
forward until the delivery of power from the first unit of Medupi Power
Station and that the contribution by every South African to use electricity
more efficiently is needed to ensure security of electricity supply in the
medium term.
(2) There is currently no need to make a statement on the matter as it is
adequately covered by the Eskom power system alert briefings to the public.