Eskom predicts R20.9bn of extra diesel costs due to plant breakdowns

17 March 2022 - 09:46 By Antony Sguazzin
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
SA’s indebted state-owned power utility expects running costs for its diesel-fed turbines, which are used to keep the lights on when coal-powered plants break down, to surge as it struggles to keep up with maintenance.
SA’s indebted state-owned power utility expects running costs for its diesel-fed turbines, which are used to keep the lights on when coal-powered plants break down, to surge as it struggles to keep up with maintenance.
Image: Bloomberg

SA's indebted state-owned power utility Eskom expects running costs for its diesel-fed turbines, which are used to keep the lights on when coal-powered plants break down, to surge as it struggles to keep up with maintenance. 

Eskom sees about a third of its coal-fired capacity being unavailable at any one time under a most likely scenario, it said last week in a presentation to the National Economic Development and Labour Council, which groups business, government and labour union representatives.

That would require it to spend R20.9bn  on fuelling its open-cycle gas turbines in the 13 months through April next year, or almost three times what it spent in the financial year ended March last year.

Eskom has forecast that its debt will rise to R416bn by the end of this month, and the unplanned expenditure will add to its financial woes. The utility, which supplies almost all of SA’s power from coal-fired plants, has subjected the country to intermittent power outages for more than a decade because it can’t meet demand. Outages rose to a record last year as its ageing and poorly maintained plants broke down repeatedly. 

“The system is volatile and dynamic and hence this is the best indication Eskom had at the time,” the company said in response to queries, confirming the presentation. It didn’t say what fuel price it used to make its assessments in the presentation.

Under its most likely projection, between 12,000 and 13,000 megawatts would be unavailable at any time due to breakdowns and some missing capacity would need to be replaced using turbines. Even then, 25 days of power cuts should be expected as it would struggle to replenish diesel supplies fast enough and there would be financial constraints in paying for the fuel, the company said in the presentation. 

Expenditure could rise to R35.9bn and 36 days of power cuts could be expected under a less likely, more pessimistic scenario when even more generation capacity was offline, it said. The turbines usually run at times of peak demand when coal-fired plants are not producing enough electricity. 

The number of days of power cuts forecast is conservative compared to Eskom’s performance in the current financial year. Between April 1 last year and February 8 this year there were 58 days of power cuts, the utility said.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com


subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.