The “power crunch” South Africa was experiencing was evidence the country needed to both increase its energy supply, and broaden it to include more flexible energy sources such as renewables, the Word Wide Fund for Nature’s Living Planet Unit chief Saliem Fakir said.
South Africa, which has suffered a thin energy reserve for several years, is facing blackouts after software critical to Eskom’s Medupi power plant’s operating system failed three tests, especially as there is no clarity on whether the problem can be fixed.
“It is clear Medupi will not come online until 2014, or even later…. Our reserve is very thin and if we need to grow our economy, as we do, even if consumption stabilises, if a big power station goes down we’re in trouble,” said Mr Fakir in an interview with Business Day.
The software, being developed by French contractor Alstom, failed three tests over the 18 months to December 24. This caused Eskom to draw Alstom’s 10 per cent performance bond, a contractual remedy employed in serious circumstances. Also extraordinarily, Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba has intervened, calling Alstom CEO Patrick Kron to South Africa to express his dissatisfaction and concern.
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