Eskom yesterday told the National Energy Regulator of South Africa that it had put measures in place to address the current coal shortages at seven of its 15 power stations in the country.
“The challenge of coal stock levels below the required target of 20 days at seven of our power stations is not ideal, more especially as the organisation prepares for the traditionally higher usage period in winter,” said Eskom interim group chief executive, Phakamani Hadebe.
“We have however put measures in place to mitigate the situation and if the current state does not improve, we will meticulously reassess the situation, review our plans and take the necessary action.”
The recovery plan includes securing additional coal supplies for the affected stations and a further redirection of coal stock is under way to address the short-term imbalance.
Eskom national spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe told FTW Online that the state entity was currently in the process of issuing direct procurement of additional coal from companies that were already on Eskom’s database as well as looking at including those who were not on the database but were ready and able to supply the coal.
“Procurement of the additional coal needs to be in line with Treasury regulations, which requires Eskom to source coal only as far as 60 kilometres from the power stations affected,” he said. “This is to make sure that transport costs do not rise above the cost of the coal being transported.”
Phasiwe said that Eskom was currently in the process of finalising all the regulatory requirements for procurement of the additional coal.
According to Hadebe, Eskom’s overall stockpile level was 35 days – excluding the Medupi and Kusile power stations– and the power parastatal’s newbuild power stations had further added additional capacity to the national grid.
Coal shortages have been reported at the Arnot, Tutuka, Majuba, Hendrina, Camden, Kriel and Komati power stations, all of which are located in Mpumalanga.
“A number of factors, including the historical underinvestment at cost-plus mines due to capital constraints and the under-supply on both coal quality and quantity by the Tegeta mines which are under business rescue, have negatively impacted stock levels and production,” said Hadebe.
He went on to deny reports of impending load shedding due to the shortages, adding that load shedding experienced in 2008 had been a result of severely affected coal production and delivery due to wet coal on top of an increase in demand for electricity.
Eskom will hold a media briefing on May 3 where it will share its winter plans.
