Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe Calls Out Eskom for Loadshedding, Says There Are Other Energy Sources
- The Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said he does not understand why Eskom is resorting to loadshedding
- The power utility implemented loadshedding on Sunday 22 May due to generator breakdowns and sabotage
- The Resources and Energy Minister said Eskom can avoid loadshedding because it has 6 000MW in extra reserves
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JOHANNESBURG - The Minister of Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe said he does not understand why Eskom is resorting to loadshedding when the power utility allegedly has enough electricity reserves. Stage 2 Loadshedding was implemented on Sunday 22 May and will continue until the end of the week.
In a statement, the power utility said the implementation of loadshedding was due to generator breakdowns and sabotage. Eskom also added that 14,992MW of electricity capacity was not available due to the breakdowns.
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Minister Mantashe said the power utility can avoid loadshedding because it has 6 000MW in extra reserves. During an interview with eNCA, he said the department has a supplementary programme to boost generation and Eskom can also be optimised. Mantashe said 15,000MW from the power utility is idle.
“There is a lot of energy that is not used,” said Mantashe.
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Eskom may need to implement Stage 2 loadshedding outside the hours of 5 pm to 10 pm, TimesLIVE reported.
Social media reacts
South Africans are not buying the energy crisis and called out Eskom:
FLOR REAL said:
“Everyone has a different angle on this crisis, but no one's angle helps any.”
John Alberts posted:
“What about blaming incompetence and corruption? We already heard about sabotage as an excuse. That cannot be the only problem.”
Vernon Naicker wrote:
“Gwede is so not qualified or competent enough for this role. Time CR got rid of him and put someone who can actually do the job and not another useless ANC cadre.”
Francois Bezuidenhout commented:
“What reserves Mantashe? Tell the country.”
Zithulele Sidwell Ntshudu added:
“The country needs to revive old power stations to support Eskom generators.”
Eskom announced Stage 2 rolling blackouts as diesel stocks dwindle, weekend ruined
In a related matter, Briefly News also reported Eskom announced the stage two rolling blackouts would continue into the weekend and the power utility rationed diesel stocks. The blackouts would take place between 8 am and 10 pm on Saturday and Sunday and Eskom called on South Africans to help by reducing their use of electricity.
A fresh batch of diesel is expected to arrive on Monday but until then Eskom has been forced to reduce its diesel consumption or risk depleting its stocks.
Source: Briefly News
