Loadshedding
Cabinet Commends Return of Kusile Power Station’s Unit 4
Cabinet has expressed commendation for the successful return of Unit 4 at Kusile Power Station from planned maintenance. According to SANews, this development has restored 800 megawatts of power to the country’s grid.
Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, announced this achievement during a post-Cabinet media briefing, highlighting the significance of this milestone in addressing the nation’s persistent load-shedding issue.
Moreover, Cabinet expressed satisfaction with the progress made in bringing Units 1, 2, and 3 at Kusile back online, with the work expected to be completed ahead of the initial schedule by October and the end of November 2023, respectively.
Cabinet also noted and welcomed Eskom’s stable rating by Moody’s Investors Service, which is anticipated to enhance the power utility’s creditworthiness. This improved rating is due to the Debt Relief Act passed by Eskom in July.
Minister Ntshavheni underscored the importance of this rating, stating that it will empower Eskom to plan and execute maintenance activities on its generation fleet effectively.
Also read: Man Faces Court in Alleged R2 Billion Kusile Power Station Corruption
Cabinet also applauded the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s approval of trading and import/export licenses for the National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA).
The approval of these licenses enables the NTCSA to buy and sell electricity from various sources, including power stations and independent power producers. This development is viewed as a significant step toward regional power procurement.
Switching gears to water security, Minister Ntshavheni revealed that water authorities and local governments are actively addressing water-related challenges in various country regions.
Notably, the Minister highlighted significant water losses occurring in areas under the responsibility of cities, including Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and Johannesburg. These losses are mainly due to damaged water infrastructure and unattended leaking pipes.
Efforts are underway, led by the Minister of Water and Sanitation and Rand Water, to manage and mitigate water shortages. Minister Ntshavheni also urged citizens to play their part in conserving water by taking simple yet impactful measures, such as sparing water and promptly reporting water leaks to local authorities.
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Picture: Facebook / AwakeMzansi
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