AfrElec: Eskom’s debt deal requires bringing gas, nuclear power into energy mix

South Africa’s Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said that the government's commitment to take on between a third and two-thirds of the struggling state power utility Eskom's ZAR400bn ($22bn) debt will come with conditions.

Some of the conditions, according to the minister, include bringing “old reliable technologies” like gas and nuclear power into South Africa’s energy mix, News24 reports.

Addressing guests at the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) lunch on October 31, Godongwana said that South Africa needs more reliable power sources, gas and nuclear included.

The event followed last week’s medium-term budget policy statement in which the government announced plans to take over up to two-thirds of Eskom’s debt. It is still in talks with Eskom's lenders about how this debt transfer will work, writes News24.