Eskom Extends Coal Plants’ Lives to Protect South Africa Grid
- Firm won’t make itself vulnerable by early shutdowns, CEO says
- Utility remains committed to reducing emissions, Nxumalo says
An Eskom coal-fired power station in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
South Africa’s state-owned power utility needs to run some coal-fired plants for longer than their planned retirement deadlines to avoid leaving the national grid “vulnerable,” according to its chief executive officer.
Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. has approved a plan to keep using at least three stations that were scheduled to close over the next few years until 2030. For years, an unreliable power system has hit South Africa with blackouts that crimp economic growth.