AfrElec: South Africa’s power utility Eskom reports progress at underperforming plants

The group executive for generation at South Africa’s power utility Eskom, Bheki Nxumalo, says at least five of the utility’s underperforming coal-fired power stations are beginning to show improvement, SANews reports.

Nxumalo was speaking at a regular media briefing on March 25 with an update on the implementation of the energy action plan (EAP). While acknowledging continuing challenges, he reported progress at several power plants in the Mpumalanga coal belt.

One of the stations identified for intervention was the Kusile Power Station, with only one unit running at limited capacity. According to Nxumalo, it is now running “exceptionally well, on average above 90% availability.

“It shows that we have taken the lessons from Medupi [power station], which has been consistently running at those levels. Kusile has now turned the corner,” he said as quoted by SANews.

If you would like to read more about the key events shaping the African energy sector, then please click here for NewsBase's AfrElec Monitor.