Johannesburg - South Africa's power grid is under significant pressure and reserve margins are expected to be “very tight” next week as more businesses reopen after the holiday season, a spokesman for state power utility Eskom said on Wednesday.
Taking questions on Reuters' Trading Africa chat room, Andrew Etzinger said stocks of diesel used for some power stations were in a “good position, but extensive use today may change that situation”.
Eskom is scrambling to keep the lights on as demand for power threatens to outstrip its capacity to maintain supplies, raising the prospect of rolling blackouts.
South Africa last year suffered its worst power shortages since 2008 due to creaking infrastructure, power plant failures and emergency maintenance.
Power supply is a major constraint to already sluggish economic growth in South Africa and seen as a deterrent to foreign investment.
Reuters