Eskom not concerned about City of Joburg getting electricity from IPPs

Eskom chief executive officer (CEO) André de Ruyter says the City of Johannesburg’s efforts to fully exclude its residents from load shedding is not of concern to the power utility.

In an interview with eNCA on Tuesday, De Ruyter said the metropolitan municipality was free to procure its own power from Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

“We are not concerned at all by the move from the City of Joburg to reduce their reliance on Eskom, in fact we have anticipated this.

“It was three years ago when the president announced in the State of the Nation Address that metros in good financial standing will be able to buy electricity directly from IPPs. So this is not a new development.

“How I read the situation is the city is following through on that opportunity created by the president,” he said.

The Eskom CEO added that the city’s move would relieve some pressure off the power utility.

“We welcome that because what it would entail is that an IPP would invest in additional generating capacity so if that move by the city can alleviate pressure on our generation system then I’m all for it.

“The first priority here is not to protect the interests of Eskom, the first priority is to protect the interests of South Africa by addressing the energy crisis,” De Ruyter said.

In other news – Trouble in paradise: Pregnant Londie London moves out of the house as husband gets another lady pregnant

South African businessman Hlubi Nkosi is allegedly expecting a child with Phumla M while his partner, reality star and singer Londie London is carrying their second child.

A local publication reports that Londie London has moved out of the home she shared with the father of her child, Hlubi Nkosi – amid allegations of there being trouble in the relationship. Londie announced that she was pregnant with her second child on the Real Housewives of Durban (RHOD) reunion which aired on Showmax on 6 May. Learn More