ANC celebrating 100 days of no loadshedding and recent milestones in energy security

5 July 2024

The African National Congress (ANC) proudly acknowledges and celebrates a significant milestone: 100 consecutive days of no load shedding in South Africa. This achievement is a testament to the relentless efforts and commitment of our government, spearheaded by President Cyril Ramaphosa and the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM), led by Minister Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.

The ANC recognises that inconsistent energy supply has imposed severe challenges on the daily lives of South Africans. From disrupting businesses and causing economic losses to affecting the quality of life in households across the nation, the impact of inconsistent electricity supply has been profound. Families have struggled with power outages that disrupted their daily routines, children's education has been interrupted, and businesses, especially small enterprises, have faced operational challenges that threatened their survival.

Understanding these hardships, the ANC-led government launched the comprehensive Energy Action Plan (EAP) in July 2022. This plan, focused on both immediate relief and long-term energy security, has been instrumental in achieving our current milestone.

A recent and remarkable achievement in our journey is Eskom's successful addition of 800 MW to the national grid as Kusile Power Station's Unit 5 achieved commercial operation. This milestone, after months of rigorous testing and optimisation, marks a significant leap in our efforts to stabilise South Africa's power system. With the total output of Kusile Power Station now above 4,000 MW, this unit not only contributes a substantial amount of power but also enhances the stability of our network.

As highlighted by Eskom's leadership, the completion of Kusile Power Station Unit 5 is part of a broader Generation Operational Recovery Plan. This plan, initiated in March 2023, aims to add a total of 2,500 MW to the grid by the end of this year. Such strategic initiatives showcase our focused efforts to deliver on the promise of a stable and reliable energy supply for all South Africans.

Moreover, Kusile Power Station's innovative use of wet flue gas desulphurisation technology underscores our commitment to environmental sustainability. This technology makes Kusile the first power station in South Africa and Africa to use such emissions abatement technology, ensuring compliance with international air quality standards.

In addition to our achievements in expanding generation capacity, we have significantly reduced the reliance on diesel-powered turbines, which has not only improved the environmental footprint but also alleviated financial pressure on Eskom. By focusing on more sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions, we are securing a more stable and economically viable future for South Africa's power supply.

Despite these successes, we remain acutely aware of the challenges that load shedding has brought to our people. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all South Africans for their resilience and support.

The ANC is committed to not only maintaining this period of stability but also to permanently ending load shedding. We will continue to implement and enhance the strategies laid out in the EAP, ensuring that our progress is sustainable and that every South African can enjoy reliable and uninterrupted electricity.

Let's do more, together.

Issued by Zuko Godlimpi, Acting National Spokesperson, 5 July 2024