An acceleration in economic growth in South Africa could trigger power cuts, with state utility Eskom’s fragile generation system unable to respond to increased demand for electricity.
Browsing: Energy and sustainability
The cost of producing hydrogen using renewable energy sources is set to drop sharply over the next decade, making it competitive with supplies extracted from fossil fuels and enhancing its role in the clean energy transition.
Labour unions that oppose the government’s plans to split Eskom into three units will ultimately have to support the reforms, according to mineral resources & energy minister Gwede Mantashe.
The area around coal-fired plants owned by Eskom ranks as the world’s second largest hotspot of sulphur dioxide emissions, according to Greenpeace.
The chief executive role at Eskom, considered the most challenging job in corporate South Africa, is attracting interest from people who know how difficult turning around the debt-ridden state utility will be.
Eskom wants the majority of its R440-billion of debt transferred to the South African government.
Eskom urgently needs a plan to turn profitable or South Africa’s state-owned utility will collapse under mounting debt, according to credit agency Moody’s Investors Service.
Debt-stricken state power utility Eskom reported a record loss of R20.7-billion on Tuesday, highlighting the severity of the threat it poses to South Africa’s economy.
Eskom, South Africa’s biggest polluter, said emissions of particulate matter that cause chronic respiratory disease are at their highest level in two decades.
Embattled state power utility Eskom will be temporarily led by Jabu Mabuza, its chairman, who will take over the roles of interim executive chairman and acting CEO starting from next month.