In a bid to bolster the national grid ahead of the approaching winter season, the government has announced the completion of a contract for an additional 400 megawatts (MW) of electricity capacity through the standard offer program. It is expected that this power will be integrated into the grid by the end of May 2023.
The announcement was made by Cabinet on Thursday, May 25, 2023, following a meeting held on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
Cabinet expressed satisfaction with the progress made in implementing the Energy Action Plan (EAP) while acknowledging the existing limitations that continue to burden the national grid.
Furthermore, the Department of Health has identified 213 hospitals to be exempted from power outages. 76 hospitals have already been granted this exemption.
Efforts are underway to include an additional 46 hospitals in the list of exempted facilities, according to Cabinet.
Additionally, the government’s senior executive branch expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming launch of the energy one-stop shop on May 31, 2023, facilitated by Invest SA. This platform aims to streamline regulatory processes, facilitating the entry of new power generation companies into the market.
The executive branch also noted the progress made at the Kusile Power Station, where units 1, 2, 3, and 5 are being restored, contributing a total of 3,200 MW to the national grid by the end of 2023.
Addressing concerns about misinformation circulating on social media regarding an imminent collapse of the national grid resulting in a total blackout, Cabinet highlighted Eskom’s assurance that safeguards are in place to prevent such an event.
Cabinet reiterated its call for South Africans to continue saving electricity, setting a target of at least 1,000 MW of daily savings, which would be equivalent to preventing one stage of load shedding each day.
The Minister of Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, is scheduled to provide an update on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan during a media briefing on Friday, May 26, 2023.
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