Browsing: Energy and sustainability

Green buildings are increasingly in demand in the face of concerns around Eskom’s ability to supply power.

Eskom’s debt burden, described by Goldman Sachs Group as the biggest threat to the nation’s economy, has burgeoned, compounding the difficulty the government faces in formulating a turnaround plan.

Forward-thinking businesses in South Africa are now starting to confront life without Eskom by putting plans in place to generate their own energy.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government won’t cut jobs at state power utility Eskom as it divides the company into three separate businesses.

South Africa’s largest labour federation is prepared to discuss reducing workers at the nation’s power utility if it’s given proof of overstaffing and that job cuts would save Eskom.

Eskom “isn’t on the brink of financial collapse” and the government has the problem “well under control”, public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan has said.

Less than a week after the CEO of Eskom declared “the days of surprises are over”, documents show the government was forced to pay R5-billion in emergency funds so the utility could meet obligations.

Eskom is overhauling the Africa’s sole nuclear plant with the aim of extending its lifespan by at least 20 years.

South Africa’s power cuts could bring economic growth for the year close to zero if they continue at the same severity seen in March, the central bank said.

Almost 15 months into the job, and the boss of South Africa’s state-owned electricity company is getting to grips with issues spanning corruption to defective power plants that threatened to collapse the grid.