SA shortfalls worsen local power crisis

On Wednesday, BPC officials and other energy sources told BusinessWeek that the load shedding programme, initiated in February, had deepened, widened and become more erratic due to unstable supplies from Eskom in South Africa.

Current local demand is estimated at 550 megawatts (MW), with local generation hovering between 260 and 300 MW from two power peaking plants in Orapa and Matshelagabedi as well as one unit at Morupule B.The balance is sourced from Eskom under a contract for 100MW firm and another 200 MW non-firm meaning it is available only when Eskom has catered for South African needs.