Eskom moved to reassure lenders and markets on Monday that it will continue to meet its financial commitments and obligations during and after South Africa’s Covid-19 lockdown.

In a statement issued through the JSE, the indebted state-owned electricity utility said it “recognises the gravity of the recent outbreak of Covid-19, and the difficulties the country will have to endure in our endeavours to arrest the spread of the pandemic”.

“We would like to assure our lenders that as an essential and critical services company, Eskom’s operations will continue unimpeded by the national lockdown. Accordingly, please be assured that financial commitments and obligations during and after the lockdown will be honoured as they fall due. In this tumultuous period, our partnerships matter more than ever, and we are grateful for your continued support,” it said.

“Together with our suppliers in the generation of electricity, chiefly coal miners, logistics companies, and those involved in the supply of components and maintenance of power stations, we have put the necessary measures in place to continue operating throughout the lockdown. As such, Eskom does not foresee any disruptions to power supply as a result of the lockdown.”

Most Eskom workers who can are working remotely and have been doing so for the past two weeks, the utility added.

“For those employees that have to come to Eskom facilities to perform their duties, Eskom has put in measures to reduce the chances of introducing the virus to the workforce, including body temperature testing as employees arrive at work, making available adequate hand sanitisers that are located throughout our facilities, and providing the necessary protective equipment to those who need it.

Toolkit

“We also have a Covid-19 employee engagement toolkit that updates Eskom employees regularly of developments specific to the company and generally on the pandemic. This has been shared with other public sector entities who have found the toolkit very useful. In order to reduce the possibility and spread of infection, teams are kept strictly separated.

“Further, should the need develop, Eskom has put in place measures where critical teams of employees may be accommodated in isolation and away from home and the rest of society to minimise the spread of infection.” — © 2020 NewsCentral Media