ESKOM has confirmed that it intends procuring engineering and maintenance services from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the coming months to supplement its skills base at power stations that have become prone to repeated unplanned breakdowns.
CEO André de Ruyter said the strategy was still being canvassed with organised labour and with government, but that he expected the first OEM “boots on the ground” within the coming three to six months.
Speaking against the backdrop of another sustained period of power disruption and warnings of up to 101 days of winter load-shedding, De Ruyter said the strategy was also designed to free up limited internal resources by augmenting its skills base at a select few power stations, which would continue to be fully operated by Eskom employees.
Eskom has 79 coal units across its 15 power stations, many of which have become unreliable partly as a result of their age, but also
You’ve reached your free article limit
Subscribe to enjoy unlimited access to trusted journalism. Cancel anytime.
Subscribe nowNeed help? molokom@insidepolitic.co.za
