German energy consultants have completed a review of Eskom\u2019s struggling coal-fired plants and will submit the report to South Africa\u2019s finance minister this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Enoch Godongwana is set to receive the report from consultants led by VGBE Energy e.V., a Germany-based technical association of energy-plant operators in 34 countries, this week, National Treasury Director-General Duncan Pieterse told reporters on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The utility, which is subjecting South Africa to its worst-ever electricity outages and curtailing economic growth, is expected to implement the group\u2019s recommendations as part of the terms of a R254 billion ($13.5 billion) debt relief package from the government to be accessed over three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Treasury announced in February that it had hired the energy consultants to assess Eskom\u2019s 14 coal-fired power plants to determine which ones can be revived to the original equipment manufacturer\u2019s standards, do a skills assessment, and advise on operational improvements to boost power generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere are recommendations around procurement, access to spare parts and so on, and how the maintenance regimes can be better managed,\u201d Pieterse said. \u201cWe think these kinds of reports should become the norm\u201d for state-owned companies, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The consortium of consultants included experts from RWE Technology International GmbH, STEAG GmbH, KWS Energy Knowledge eG, and Dornier Power and Heat GmbH.<\/p>\n\n\n\n