Eskom has achieved an Energy Availability Factor (EAF) of 70.78%, an achievement last achieved in 2021 according to the Minister of Electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who was briefing the media on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan on Monday 13 May 2024. The minister says the accomplishment of this goal, which began with the appointment of the current Eskom board in October 2022, will be supported by the Energy Action Plan that President Ramaphosa published in July of the same year as today marks 60 days without load shedding in the country. The government believes that long-term benefits would outweigh any temporary suffering South Africans are facing regarding electricity and says with the greatest expected maintenance levels in three years, the proactive maintenance-led recovery plan is beginning to pay off with the Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGT) load factor dropping from 19.13% to 6.8%, primarily due to coal-fired power plants' performance. In his latest briefing, the minister took a moment to thank the Eskom team for the 70% EAF and reiterated that they are far from done.

Journalist: Tasha-Ree Kella
Email: tashakella13@gmail.com