South Africa keeps braving rolling power cuts

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - South Africa’s state-owned power utility Eskom has suspended two power plant managers as the country continues to face rolling power cuts, the company said Friday.

In a statement, Eskom said Group Chief Executive (GCE) Andre de Ruyter suspended the Tutuka and Kendal power station managers after breakdowns triggered power cuts this week.

“Engagements have been held with other power station managers to ensure that the previous culture of weak consequence management will no longer be the norm and will no longer be tolerated at Eskom,” the power utility said.

Eskom has been implementing frequent rolling power cuts, known here as load shedding, after 12 generation units broke down over the past week, affecting many businesses and homes.

Eskom, which supplies 95% of South Africa’s electricity needs, generates its electricity from coal-fired plants.

South Africans experienced the worst power blackouts in 2008. The government is considering opening up space for independent power producers to reduce the gap between energy’s demand and supply in the continent’s most industrialized nation.