So your electricity went off during your dinner party and you are mad at Eskom? Here is what South Africa is doing right.

The need for new electricity capacity in South Africa has reached a critical stage and everyone is aware of it, moaning and groaning. But do we know what SA is doing about it?

Eskom is in the process of constructing the two largest dry-cooled thermal power stations in the world, Kusile and Medupi, each eventually having a capacity to generate 4800 MW of power. Both of these projects will cost more than R100-billion. The first generating unit of Kusile will be complete in 2013 with its overall completion in 2017. Completion of Medupi's first operating unit is expected to be finished in 2012, with the next units following at 9 month intervals.



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In Paarl, Western Cape, a thin-film solar plant is on the way. The facility in Paarl will eventually have a capacity to produce 40 MW of copper-indium-galliom-diselenide (CIGS) modules yearly. This technology is able to convert solar energy directly into electricity.

In Bethlehem there is a hydro-electricity station that generates 3.9 MW hydro power and in Darling the wind power demonstration project is aimed at generating 5.2 MW of wind energy. Dipuo Peters, Energy Minister, also made mention of a new nuclear power station in South Africa up and running by 2020.


wind energy image reference click here
hydro electricity image reference click here


South Africa is rich in resources and is digging deep into all the different resources that may possibly be used to generate power. Is this enough???
Why is Eskom still asking for a 45% increase in electricity prices yearly for the next three years when there are two power stations on the way???