Utility's missed targets make winter cuts likely
May 15, 2008
Eskom had missed a target for increasing coal stocks, raising the risk of power cuts during winter, the utility's demand-side general manager, Andrew Etzinger, said yesterday.
Stocks have climbed to 16.2 days of consumption, after falling below 10 days in January, when heavy rain disrupted mine output. Eskom had targeted stocks of 20 days by April 30.
"We'll only be comfortable when we're at 20 days," Etzinger explained, adding that a cold spell of three to four days would cause a "massive spike" in energy demand and likely result in another round of power cuts.
Eskom generates more than 90 percent of its electricity from burning coal. While the utility suspended outages across towns and cities on May 4, it is still rationing power to mines and smelters. Shortages will last at least seven years, after the government delayed approval of Eskom's expansion plans.
"South Africa is in a tight spot," Etzinger said. Still, Eskom's generating capacity was "in better shape now than a year ago, after bringing mothballed plants back on line and increasing power imports from Mozambique".
The coldest months will be next month and July.
Seven out of eight generating units at Eskom's Camden power plant had been brought back into service and Grootvlei would have two out of six units operating by the end of this month, according to Etzinger.
He added that the utility would lift a six-month suspension of new electricity connections at the end of this month.
|
|
