Bloomberg News reports that SA's electricity minister has proposed a plan to stave off deeper power cuts by increasing the use of diesel turbines, along with building more storage capacity to store the fuel.

Eskom would need to increase its budget for diesel, Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa indicated in a presentation made to the ANC’s national executive committee. A special dispensation could reduce the cost by allowing Eskom to directly purchase the fuel, the plan showed. The strategy would result in the increased use of fossil fuels to mitigate electricity shortages. In the worst case scenario, SA could reach stage 8 power cuts, meaning 8,000 megawatts would be cut, according to the presentation. Diesel turbines running at maximum capacity could insulate the nation from two stages, about 2,000 megawatts, of power cuts, the presentation showed. Ramokgopa has also asked for the extended use of coal-fired units set for decommissioning over the next few years. An update of the schedule to shut stations down must be approved by cabinet by the end of June.

• Read the original of the short report in the above regard at Fin24
• Lees ook, Eskom wil nóg druk op stelsel verlig, by Maroela Media

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