Load-shedding can be eradicated by December – Ramokgopa

Electricity minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said load-shedding could be reduced to stage 3 by September and eliminated by the end of the year.

Ramokgopa made these comments as part of his plan to end load-shedding during a special cabinet meeting on Wednesday convened by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Acting government spokesperson Michael Currin said the cabinet was briefed about the current state of the electricity system and progress on the Energy Action Plan.

The meeting discussed short and medium-term measures to ensure energy security, considering the country’s immediate energy needs.

The cabinet said a further assessment of the electricity situation and measures to be taken would be addressed at the next National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) meeting.

“There was no hard or fast decision at Wednesday’s meeting other than what we have indicated,” Currin said.

However, he said the government understands the hardship that load-shedding causes and the impact on the economy.

“We are focused on making sure we have much more reliable electricity generation and can start lowering load-shedding stages,” Currin said.

Ramokgopa’s plan addresses energy generation, including a proposal to extend the life of Eskom’s coal-fired power stations.

TimesLive reported that extending the life of coal-fired power stations is instrumental in Ramokgopa’s plan to limit load-shedding.

As part of his plan, Ramokgopa wants to ensure load-shedding is limited to stage 3 by September 2023.

“Ramokgopa believes extending the life of some of the coal-fired power stations could see the country completely ending load-shedding by December 2023,” TimesLive said.

The publication cited an insider who said Ramokgopa “is trying to make sure that by September we reduce load-shedding to maximum stage 3 […] and by December he thinks it’s possible to eradicate load-shedding”.

Currin said the government would provide further details about their plans following the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) meeting.