Continuous load shedding, lack of maintenance and mounting debts are just a few of the problems currently facing embattled state-owned entity Eskom – with the national power supplier desperately clinging to sur vival, according to a leading electricity consultant. Chris Yelland told FT W that Eskom was facing an existential threat following yet another bout of load shedding, citing the Medupi and Kusile power plants as the main antagonists for the country’s energy crisis. “Most of Eskom’s problems are because of construction work at Kusile and Medupi running late. The level of debt, the poor per for ma nce, the cost and time overruns have brought Eskom to its knees.”“Eskom is in this position because of years of mismanagement, corruption and poor planning, which has cost the taxpayer millions of rands.”Initially the plants were expected to take six years to complete.However, 12 years on and only one of the six units is in commercial operation, with a further two units synchronised. “Those two projects, which were supposed to revolutionise Eskom as a leading energy supplier, will only end up costing the country millions, or even worse – they will become stranded assets,” Yelland said.
INSERT: Eskom is in this position because of years of mismanagement, corruption and poor planning, which has cost the taxpayer millions of rands. – Chris Yelland
