Eskom to End S. Africa Power Cuts After Week of Disruption
- Company says that it has replenished water and diesel supplies
- Power cuts hindered economic activity, caused traffic jams
A large backup power generator runs outside a butchery store during a load-shedding power outage period in Johannesburg on Feb. 14.
Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/BloombergEskom Holdings SOC Ltd., the troubled South African electricity utility, said it will likely end rolling blackouts on Friday after it repaired some power plants and replenished diesel and water supplies at others.
The five days of power cuts have hindered economic activity and snarled traffic, prompting criticism of President Cyril Ramaphosa and his ministers who are battling to stabilize the state-owned company. Eskom has 419 billion rand ($30 billion) in debt and is facing a backlash from labor unions who are concerned about job security after Ramaphosa said last week Eskom will be split into three units -- generation, transmission and distribution.