South Africa’s new Electricity Minister is confident load shedding can be reduced. Image: Twitter/@Kgosientho_R.
‘I am more than confident’: Electricity Minister optimistic about reducing intensity of load shedding
‘I am more than confident we are going to resolve load shedding. Of course, it is going to be daunting,’ said Ramokgopa.
South Africa’s new Electricity Minister is confident load shedding can be reduced. Image: Twitter/@Kgosientho_R.
The new Electricity Minister of South Africa, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, was sworn in on Tuesday evening, 7 March. He addressed the media afterwards and indicated that he is confident government will be able to reduce the intensity and frequency of load shedding.
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RAMOKGOPA LOAD SHEDDING CAN BE REDUCED
When President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that a temporary Electricity Minister would be appointed to lead South Africa out of the load shedding crisis, the move drew criticism from opposition parties and the public.
Ramaphosa felt that the load shedding crisis required a minister to focus solely on the issue. Ramokgopa echoed what the President said on Tuesday, saying the position requires someone with “laser focus” and no other competing tasks.
Ramokgopa indicated he would commence with physical meetings on Thursday, 9 March. He will meet with the relevant cabinet ministers, Eskom’s board, and visit the different power plants.
“I am more than confident we are going to resolve load shedding. Of course, it is going to be daunting.
“We’ll communicate to the public how we’re addressing the situation and also share what those timelines are going into the future,” said the Electricity Minister.
TIMEFRAME
Ramokgopa said the government would provide timelines to the public in order to be held accountable. When asked about the time it would take to tackle the problem, he indicated that South Africa’s sixth administration is coming to an end soon, and the government wants to make progress before Ramaphosa’s term ends.
A priority will be increasing Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF). Ramokgopaq said the EAF was above 70% in 2010, and this year it is around 48%.
“So, our best opportunity to address the load shedding crisis in the shortest possible time is to make interventions on the existing fleet of Eskom as we accelerate the new generation…”
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