Eskom Board Chairperson, Mpho Makwana’s promise that the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) will reach 60% by 31 March 2023 has been a resounding failure after the utility’s weekly generation availability tracking data shows that the EAF currently stands at a measly 52%.
With industry experts having consistently pointed out that Eskom will not be able to ramp up its EAF in the short term, Makwana’s insistence on a high EAF by the end of March can only be interpreted as deliberate political messaging that was designed to give false assurance to the nation while buying time for the ANC.
Now that the 60% EAF fantasy has fallen flat, Makwana should get out of the way and let Eskom executives and engineers handle communications on Eskom operations. In the midst of an electricity crisis, it is important that Eskom remains honest with South Africans and refrains from propagating misleading projections on power supply.
The DA has always maintained the position that it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for Eskom to improve its EAF using its aging coal fleet as a primary energy source. The coal fleet has proven to be unreliable and is constantly breaking down as more units reach their end of life. Removing impediments for Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and encouraging more investment in renewable energy is a critical first step in turning the needle on the EAF.
In addition, it is important that investment in transmission infrastructure is prioritized over the medium to long term to provide IPPs with capacity for access to the grid. This was underscored in December 2023, when it was revealed that 23 green power projects in the last round of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme could not be awarded due to grid constraints.
Instead of making grandiose public promises, Makwana and the new Minister of Electricity, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, should concentrate on the coming winter months which are projected to have severe power constraints after the return of Koeberg’s Unit 1 was delayed even further to September 2023.