Energy regulator Nersa on Thursday approved an application by Eskom to reduce electricity tariffs by 35 for two distressed ferrochrome operations battling high power costs.
More than a dozen smelters have shut down in South Africa in recent years, leading to thousands of job losses, largely due to high electricity costs which have surged by more than 900 since 2008.
Eskom in December sought Nersas approval for a tariff reduction for Samancor Chrome as well as a joint venture between Glencore and Merafe Resources in a bid to avert smelter closures and save jobs.
