South Africa’s ageing electricity grid needs R200 billion
South Africa’s electricity transmission grid is in need of a $15 billion (R200 billion) cash injection by 2022 to accelerate new energy production.
This is according to German state development bank KfW, as reported by Reuters.
The news agency reported that Eskom’s ageing grid means that feeding electricity into the system is becoming more difficult.
The government has plans to deliver 17.8 gigawatts (GW) of green power by 2030 with 1,827 megawatts (MW)renewable energy now contributing to an installed capacity of 45,000 MW.
“South Africa lacks transmission infrastructure which is needed to enable the country to meet its target,” Ihno Baumfalk, KfW’s senior energy and climate project manager, told Reuters.
“At present you need to do grid strengthening in order to accommodate the additional energy generation which is being put into the grid.”
Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe said the power utility would announce its plans to strengthen the grid, on October 16.
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