Chief Executive Brian Molefe said in a Parliament media briefing last week that it is building new plans to improve the supply of power and is upping its generation to help remedy a shortage that resulted in controlled blackouts last year.
“We have contracted all the coal we need for the next five years. That is what we are looking at; we are looking at people that will supply us with coal,” Molefe told the group, according to IOL. “This was critical in the energy supply for the country.
“We had a total rethink on the matter; we think instead of decommissioning plants we will extend their lives as we do maintenance. That is our thinking on our fleet…investment on the ageing fleet was the best route that the power utility will take.”
According to Reuters data, at least 80% of South Africa’s electricity comes from coal-fired power facilities. Some of those units previously mothballed have even been brought back online to aid in supply levels.
