Eskom’s coal fleet still underperforms despite 250 days without load shedding

Eskom has reported over 250 days without load shedding as of February, but new analysis suggests the underlying system remains fragile.

Analysis of Eskom's own statistics shows that the coal fleet is still underperforming, leaving little room for error.

In her latest piece for the amaBhungane investigative journalist Susan Comrie says the power stations are offline far too often to be a reliable buffer against breakdowns, maintenance delays or sudden spikes in demand.

Things have undeniably improved, she says, but adds that when it comes to the numbers, the devil is in the details.

"We've gone from an EAF (energy availability factor) of 55% in 2023, we're now up to 62%. But that doesn't give you the full picture, because Eskom bundles all of its power stations into one single number."

Unpacking the numbers provides a more realistic picture of how the coal fleet is performing.

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"The coal fleet is performing at around 58%. The question is, if they're only available to produce power 58% of the time, what are they spending the rest of the time doing?"

Comrie says, according to its own figures, breakdowns on Eskom's coal fleet remain very high.

"Those are incredibly expensive breakdowns to repair the plant." And it's the consumers who end up footing the bill, she adds.

And while praising Eskom for its transparency in providing the data, Comrie says the power utility could go even further.

"They could be more transparent in providing the cost, of per power station, what the cost of the electricity is at every single one of these power stations, so we can work out if this is something we want to keep doing, pouring hundreds of millions and sometimes billions into these power stations."

To listen to Susan Comrie in conversation with CapeTalk's John Maytham, click audio below.