Eskom: Power alert 1 - Eskom – a significant roleplayer in South Africa

19th July 2016

Eskom: Power alert 1 - Eskom – a significant roleplayer in South Africa

Eskom is progressing well with the maintenance of its power generating plant whilst supplying the country’s electricity needs.

Since its inception in 1923, Eskom has been playing a substantial role in national and regional development, which goes beyond the basic supply of electricity.

Through the daily activities of providing electricity, building power plants and transmission infrastructure, connecting households without access to electricity or engaging in corporate social initiatives, Eskom has a significant impact on the lives of most people in the country, contributes to shaping the future of South Africa and the region, and supports Government’s priorities.

In executing its core activities, Eskom also supports a range of other industries that supply it with goods and services, ranging from coal, metals, petroleum, engineering and construction services, as well as financial and business services. This contributes to Eskom’s direct impact on the economy.

Eskom’s indirect impact on the economy is also significant and achieved through its suppliers generating further economic activity that takes place in the execution of their contracts with Eskom.

State-owned companies like Eskom play a central role in the implementation of Government’s infrastructure development plan which is aimed at ensuring that we upgrade the electricity transmission network and our ports and also expand the country’s railway network to meet the country’s demand.

While committed to keeping the lights on in South Africa through a focused approach to managing a tight power system, as well as through expanded partnerships with businesses and households that aim to manage demand and raise awareness of the need to use electricity more efficiently, Eskom continues to implement the electrification programme. In partnership with the Department of Energy we have connected close to five million households to the Distribution network since 1991, with almost 90% of all households electrified.

We will continue to provide regular updates on the state of the power system through various media platforms.

 

Issued by Eskom