Spotlight on Eskom- Professionals speak out

SAfm — Eskom is implementing Stage 4 rotational load shedding which is expected to continue until 11pm tonight. This follows Eskom implementing Stage 6 load shedding last night after power supply to the incline conveyors feeding coal to the silos at Medupi power station failed. This resulted in a loss of a number of units while flooding at both Kriel mine and the power station located in Mpumalanga led to no coal deliveries via the conveyor belt. We speak to Director General for the Department of Public Enterprises, Kgathatso Tlhakudi.. Meanwhile The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, John Steenhuisen says there is more to the issue of loadshedding than what meets the eye. However, Eskom’s Chief Operations Officer Jan Oberholzer says there is no need for the country to panic. He says Eskom has to reduce the demand of the country when it is required because Eskom has to protect the integrity of the electrical network at all times in order to avoid bigger problems in the future. Our economic reporter Liabo Setho spoke to him Interestingly, The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has called for an immediate release of available wind power into the national grid. Wind Energy Association CEO, Ntombifuthi Ntuli says operational wind energy plants have excess capacity of about 500Mega Watts which is available immediately. Founder and Chief Executive of Pan-African Investment and Research, Dr Iraj Abedian says the longer government focuses on rescuing Eskom the more the economy will weaken, more jobs will be lost and brand SA will suffer.