Eskom ‘back in business’ for large power users

Eskom says large power users can now launch their growth plans with confidence, thanks to the utility’s turnaround strategy delivering an operational surplus capacity.

Speaking at the POWER-GEN & DistribuTECH Africa industry reception event in Johannesburg last week, Eskom Interim Group Chief Executive Matshela Koko said Eskom’s turnaround had delivered an operational surplus energy capacity of 3600MW, which, along with its maintenance and build programme, would meet increases in demand until 2021. “Not long ago we were loadshedding, and now we have significant surplus capacity. We want to thank the associates and stakeholders who walked this journey with us through difficult times and are helping to make Eskom great again.”

Willie Majola, Acting Group Executive, Generation at Eskom, said: “We are saying to big business ‘we are open for business. Let’s power the growth of the South African economy’.”

Koko and Majola were addressing Southern African power and distribution sector industry bodies and leaders at the planning launch of the 2017 POWER-GEN & DistribuTECH Africa conference and exhibition programme. The event is a premier pan-African power sector summit, addressing issues identified by the industry.

POWER-GEN & DistribuTECH Africa 2017 will be staged from 18 – 20 July at the Sandton Convention Centre. The event is attended by over 3,000 power industry stakeholders, utilities and sub-Saharan government officials from pan-Africa and abroad. For more information, go to http://www.powergenafrica.com