According to Reuters, this latest warning follows a tightening power supply situation in South Africa with rolling blackouts and the subsequent five-day closure of the country’s mines in early 2008.
Eskom, which claims to generate 95% of South Africa’s and 45% of Africa’s electricity, has a total generating capacity of 37,761MW from its 11 coal-fired power stations.
It has a further 2,300MW of potential capacity from two idle plants, which are reportedly in the process of being recommissioned, according to the news source.
Reuters noted that Eskom cut power supply to the country’s mines on January 25, 2008, after it registered a 4,000MW deficit in supply, which threatened to undermine the entire country’s electricity grid.
