And the power saga continues…

Our government is now leaning strongly on the private sector to help it achieve a five-point turn around plan for the embattled power monopoly Eskom.

This will include garnering loans, extending cogeneration, tapping into waste energy and importing gas, it emerged at a cabinet briefing on Thursday.

The five points briefly explained:

One was to extend the cogeneration “opportunity” through the extension of existing contracts with the private sector, explained the Minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe.

Two. Government would accelerate the programme “for substitution of diesel with gas to fire up the diesel power plants”.

Radebe noted there were significant opportunities for the importation of gas. While he did not specify, he was believed to be alluding to the gas fields of Mozambique, South Africa’s eastern neighbour.

Three was the “retrofitting energy efficient technologies” at the 183 municipalities around the country. This would also apply to commercial and residential buildings, Radebe pledged.

Number four of the turnaround plan was launching a coal-independent power producer programme. The focus is expected to be on harnessing waste energy from the sugar, paper, and pulp industries. The latter is expected to produce about 1 000 MW.

Number five of the turnaround plan was to achieve the various interventions “in the period over the next 30 days”.

Cabinet has reportedly decided to put Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa in charge of overseeing the turnaround of Eskom as well as that of South African Airways and the embattled South African Post Office.

This is a big ask of DP Ramaphosa, hope he’s up to the challenge.

For more see Fin 24