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Electricity Minister Kgosientsho (Sputla) Ramokgopa is giving the click in Miriam Makeba’s famous Click Song new meaning as he calls on South Africans to “click” by switching off and lowering electricity demand.
Ramokgopa on Sunday 6 August, during his weekly update on the energy action plan, launched a demand side management programme aimed at eliminating two stages of load shedding, with the release of a video clip to the tune of the traditional Xhosa song Makeba brought to the world’s attention.
Read: As big as a chocolate bar but ‘it can end load shedding’
Ramokgopa called on South Africans to switch off their geysers between 5pm and 9pm, set the geyser temperature at 60 degrees, and plug in appliances only when needed.
This, he said, must be “the new normal,” even after the current crisis has been resolved.
It will save consumers money, lower the demand on the national grid and reduce the impact on the environment, he said.
“To you it may look simple, but in aggregate it can save two stages of load shedding,” he said, meaning about 2 000MW.
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He said Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala will also launch a campaign to ensure power savings in government buildings.
Ramokgopa also gave feedback on the progress a year after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the Energy Action Plan to stop load shedding.
The plan rests on five pillars:
- Fix Eskom and improve the availability of existing supply;
- Enable and accelerate private investment in generation capacity;
- Fast-track the procurement of new generation capacity from renewables, gas and battery storage;
- Unleash businesses and households to invest in rooftop solar; and
- Fundamentally transform the electricity sector to achieve long-term energy security.
Ramokgopa, who was appointed in March, is working closely with the National Energy Crisis Committee (Necom), which comprises about 100 high-level officials “from across government and Eskom, working closely with business and other social partners”.
The private sector has donated funds and expertise to support the execution of the plan.
Report card
So far, 28 actions or 56% of the plan have been completed or are on track, 12 actions (24%) were delayed but progressing well, eight actions are off track and two actions have not yet started. None are facing critical challenges, Ramokgopa said.
He said the Eskom generation fleet is performing better, with unplanned breakages down by 2 000MW from more than 18 000MW. The Eskom debt package has been finalised, with National Treasury providing for R254 billion to improve the Eskom balance sheet. And an independent technical review of the power stations is underway to inform the recovery plan.
Included in the debt relief package is R22 billion to enable Eskom to increase the usage of its open-cycle gas turbines when necessary to limit the intensity of load shedding, and work is being done to improve logistics in the supply of diesel to Eskom’s Ankerlig plant in the Western Cape.
The plan to return Unit 4 at Medupi Power Station to service after an earlier explosion has been expedited.
It is now expected to return to service in April next year, instead of August.
Units 1, 2 and 3 at Kusile Power Station are on track to return to service by November, with the synchronisation of units 5 and 6 planned for October and May next year respectively.
These six units can together provide 4 800MW, which will go a long way to closing the current supply gap.
Independent power producers
The removal of the licensing threshold for private generation has resulted in a pipeline of 100 projects representing over 10 000MW of new capacity.
The timelines for various regulatory approvals have been significantly shortened and government has just set up a one-stop-shop to ease the process for independent power producers.
Determinations have been made for the government procurement of 14 000MW of new generation capacity from wind, solar and battery storage.
Three projects from the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement (Reippp) risk mitigation programme will be connected to the grid in November.
Power purchase agreements totalling 1 759MW have been signed with 19 renewable projects from Bid Window 5, and six projects from Bid Window 6 totalling 1 000MW are on track for financial close next month.
Government has introduced tax incentives for businesses and households to install rooftop solar, and the amount already installed has increased exponentially.
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The long-term sustainability of the electricity supply industry is being addressed with the establishment of the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) to manage the grid and provide a level playing field for all participants.
The Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill, which formalises the framework for the restructured industry, was tabled in parliament last month.
Ramokgopa said the return to service of several units and Medupi and Kusile will go a long way in resolving the current load shedding crisis, but unless the country ensures enough capacity for future growth, it will be a recurring problem.
Source: Eskom
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