The latest data from Eskom shows that the power utility spent an estimated R115 million on diesel fuel for OCGTs, the majority of which was spent meeting electricity demand during the first night of stage two loadshedding on 13 May.
Eskom CEO Dan Marokane told reporters during a 14 May briefing that Eskom would be making use of diesel-fueled open cycle gas turbines OCGT to meet electricity demand during load shedding. This comes after Eskom initiated stage 2 load shedding for three evenings starting on Tuesday night due to generation capacity breakdowns at power stations including Lethabo and Kusile.
Marokane told reporters yesterday that Eskom only uses OCGTs when the rest of the fleet is unable to meet the countrys power demand.
OCGTs are designed to assist us to manage the peak when demand is higher than capacity available elsewhere. We will use them only when we need to use them. The fact that we are using them for 6 hours yesterday, today and tomorrow as planned has got to do with the fact that our challenge is over that six-hour period, he said.
It has got nothing to do with any cost saving initiative. Its got everything to do with our needs to meet the demand at that point in time.
