---
title: "South Africa’s Electricity Minister to Fight Outages With Diesel"
description: "South Africa’s electricity minister 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."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Business Maverick"
author: "Bloomberg"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/bloomberg/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-04-24-south-africas-electricity-minister-to-fight-outages-with-diesel/"
published: "2023-04-24T18:06:31"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 170
---

# South Africa’s Electricity Minister to Fight Outages With Diesel

> South Africa’s electricity minister 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.

By Bloomberg · Published 24 April 2023, 20:06 SAST

## Key points
- Eskom is looking to diesel turbines to help mitigate electricity shortages, while Ramokgopa is asking for the extended use of coal-fired units set for decommissioning.
- Eskom to increase budget for diesel
- Special dispensation proposed to reduce costs
- Increased use of fossil fuels to mitigate electricity shortages
- Coal-fired units set for decommissioning must be approved by cabinet

## Content

State-owned utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. will need to increase its budget for diesel, Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said, according to a copy of a presentation seen by Bloomberg. 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 most industrialized nation on the continent. In the worst case scenario, South Africa could reach stage 8 power cuts, meaning 8,000 megawatts would be cut, according to the presentation to the governing African National Congress’ national executive committee.

Diesel turbines running at maximum capacity can insulate the nation from two stages, about 2,000 megawatts, of power cuts, the presentation showed.

[Read: Ramaphosa Energy Czar Powerless as Winter Blackouts Loom](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-20/ramaphosa-energy-czar-remains-powerless-as-winter-blackouts-loom)

Ramokgopa is also asking 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.