Cape Town - As industry experts and government officials gathered at the 18th annual Southern African Coal Conference on Thursday, the country’s energy woes remained at the top of the agenda.
Deputy Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, said over 90% of electricity generated and supplied by Eskom was still from coal.
“South Africa has been occupying the front pages with regards coal for a number of reasons. According to an Eskom Fact Sheet, South Africa, alongside China, USA, India and Japan – account for 82% of total global coal use. Over 90% of electricity generated and supplied by Eskom is from coal.
“We already know that Eskom uses the lower grade coal in its specially designed power stations accounting for 75 % of coal produced and the 25% consisting of higher grade is exported.
“Perhaps it is high time that the public is appropriately informed that the coal exported is merely 25% and that there is no need to protest at Richards Bay against coal exports.
“It is important that the public is informed correctly that load shedding is not a problem of coal supply, but of plant infrastructure that among others requires refurbishment and continued maintenance.”
During a media briefing on Thursday, Eskom announced that it anticipated bringing stages of load shedding down at the weekend.
The power utility said they managed to get some of the generating units back online.
Nkabane said increasing the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) was the department’s priority.
“I am on record saying that in about 12 months or so the challenges of load shedding can be averted and believe Eskom must give us detailed account on what it can take to bring inoperative units back into generation in terms of replacement parts, technical expertise and funding.
“Increasing the EAF is our immediate solution while we look into how we can solve, in the long run, the problems of an ageing power fleet as limited transmission grid.“
Minerals and Petroleum and DMRE deputy director-general, Tseliso Maqubela, said the department was working around the clock to reduce the estimated two years of load shedding the country may still suffer.
“We think that time-frame is too long and we can do more to reduce that time- frame. We should be looking at not only just Eskom but as well as other forms of energy provisions,” Maqubela said.
Cape Times