Nico de Jager urges Eskom leadership to focus on stabilising the ailing power utility

MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Nico de Jager has urged Eskom leadership to focus on stabilising the ailing power utility to avoid more blackouts.

“I call on Eskom’s leadership and the board to focus fully on stabilising the grid by also stabilising the failing state-owned entity,” said  Nico de Jager.

“The City’s power utility, City Power, has been, understandably, at the receiving end of much of this anger. This despite the fact that City Power has been stretched quite beyond the capacity to keep our substations running when the damaging power loads rush in when Eskom turns the power back on.”

De Jager said Eskom needs to have enough technical knowledge in both power generation as well as industrial relationships in a highly unionised environment.

“Currently, there is 60 per cent energy availability and we need to focus on getting it to 80 per cent. There needs to be a focus on the issues at the plant level. This will stop the current load-shedding.

“Going forward, as both a concerned citizen of this country and as a public servant, I urge Eskom’s leadership to continue working on this critical state entity even after load-shedding has ended.”

De Jager told Joburg residents that City Power is working hard to ensure the minimal impact of load-shedding.

The MMC said the biggest problem for City Power is that it depends on Eskom for power supply.

“The City Power’s operational staff are overstretched and always on standby to deal with the restoration of power and after-effects of load-shedding, as seen during this week,” De Jager said.

Related article: 

https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/209457/eskom-downgrades-load-shedding-stage-1-stage-2/