South Africa is currently grappling with its most severe energy crisis, marked by frequent and extended blackouts that can last up to 10 hours a day or even longer. President Cyril Ramaphosa and the government face mounting pressure to address the decades-long crisis, which has far-reaching implications for the country’s economy, social welfare, and overall development. To understand the causes of this energy crisis and what’s behind the persistent blackouts, it is essential to examine a combination of factors ranging from mismanagement and corruption to reliance on coal and inadequate investment in alternative energy sources.
—
Mismanagement and Corruption within Eskom
A significant contributor to South Africa’s energy crisis is Eskom, the government-owned national power utility that generates approximately 95% of electricity in the country, as well as a substantial share of the electricity generated on the African continent. Mismanagement – including poor maintenance practices, inadequate investments, and inefficient operations – has plagued Eskom since 2007, resulting in a strained power supply. As a result, breakdowns and blackouts have become increasingly frequent, causing significant disruptions to daily life and economic activities.
According to data provided by the company, South Africa is facing a severe electricity crisis in 2023, surpassing the levels of power cuts experienced last year.
In 2022, the country witnessed more than 200 days of power cuts, which was already considered the worst year for blackouts in its history. The current situation has escalated to the extent that South Africans are enduring “Stage 6” power cuts, resulting in six to eight hours-long blackouts each day that affects the majority of the population.
Furthermore, Eskom has been plagued by allegations of corruption and state capture, which have severely affected its ability to deliver consistent and trustworthy electricity. The utility has accumulated massive debt, estimated to be around 450 billion rands (about US$31 billion). This has limited its capacity to invest in infrastructure upgrades and modernisation. This debt burden has further strained Eskom’s operations, exacerbating the energy crisis and undermining the utility’s ability to provide consistent and reliable power to South Africans.
State capture allegations have raised concerns about political interference within Eskom, with contracts allegedly being awarded to politically-connected individuals and entities. This has compromised transparency and diverted resources away from essential infrastructure investments. The consequences of mismanagement and corruption extend beyond the energy sector, impacting the economy, businesses, and essential services like healthcare and education. Prolonged blackouts have disrupted productivity, deterred foreign investment, and affected public safety.
Insufficient Investment in Infrastructure
South Africa is struggling to meet the growing energy demands resulting from a growing population and increasing industrialisation. Another issue is that country’s energy infrastructure is outdate. Without proper maintenance and timely upgrades, these infrastructure components have become increasingly unreliable, leading to breakdowns and further power outages.
Insufficient investment in infrastructure has also hindered the integration of renewable energy sources into the energy mix. South Africa has significant renewable energy potential, including solar and wind resources. However, the lack of adequate infrastructure has limited the country’s ability to harness these clean energy sources effectively. Instead, the nation remains heavily reliant on traditional coal-fired power plants, which further strains the power supply and contributes to the energy crisis.
You might also like: 3 Challenges to South Africa’s Clean Energy Transition
To address the issue of insufficient investment in infrastructure, the South African government has recognised the need for reforms. Initiatives such as the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPPP) have been implemented to attract private investment in renewable energy projects and increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix. Yet, the pace of implementation and the scale of investment need to be accelerated to effectively alleviate the energy crisis and ensure a reliable and sustainable energy supply for South Africa.
Heavy Reliance on Coal
Coal has been the dominant source of energy in South Africa for decades, accounting for up to 87% of electricity generation. Despite playing a crucial role in meeting the energy demands of the nation, its drawbacks have become increasingly apparent. Coal-fired power plants are major emitters of greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change and air pollution.
Moreover, South Africa’s heavy reliance on coal has limited diversification in the energy mix. Over-dependence on a single energy source makes the country more vulnerable to supply disruptions. Shortages of coal or maintenance problems in coal-fired power plants can cause significant disruptions in the electricity supply, making frequent and extended blackouts a daily reality for South Africans.
Regulatory and Policy Challenges
One of the critical issues contributing to the energy crisis is the lack of a revised Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The current IRP, adopted in 2019, is already outdated, and the rapid developments in energy-generating technologies necessitate an updated plan. However, the absence of indications regarding the review of the IRP in President Ramaphosa’s recent State of the Nation Address has raised concerns about the government’s commitment to keeping pace with advancements and aligning the plan with optimal electricity-generating scenarios.
The energy crisis was made worse by delays in construction projects. Indeed, despite the 2019 plan to expand wind power, solar power, and electricity storage capacity, development projects have faced significant delays. Initially intended to be operational by 2022, they are now expected to be ready only in early 2024. The identification of sites and developers for projects planned for 2023, including wind, solar, and new coal projects, hasn’t even started. These delays have slowed progress and pushed back the timeline for resolving the energy crisis.
Differing opinions and priorities among government officials have made it increasingly difficult to have a clear and unified approach to addressing the energy crisis. While Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe supports coal, gas, and nuclear sectors, he has also expressed support for renewable energy like solar and wind. These conflicting positions and lack of agreement within the government make it challenging to develop and implement a cohesive energy strategy.
In his regulatory efforts, President Ramaphosa has made some progress by easing power production licensing requirements, enabling private entities to establish their own power plants. While this has created opportunities to address the energy crisis, there is still more work needed to close the electricity gap and effectively tackle the pressing energy challenges.
You might also like: South Africa Considers Burning Heavy Fuel Oil to Ease Record Load-Shedding Levels
