Why didn't ESKOM build new power stations the past 10 years?

Question

They knew more than 10 years ago what the country's electricity demands would be now and knew we would have massisve power failures because the existing stations wouldn't be able to supply in the power demand. WHY? They did regularly boast the past ten years how well their affirmative action programme is running, though....

Thank you for the reference to this very insightful article, Greendrag. It seems to confirm 3 things:(1) The government (Meduna) made the wrong economic decisions by putting all (very big and fragile) eggs in one basket and not allowing for a backup plan. (2) Refusal by the government (Mhlambo-Nguka) to accept the failure of the above-mentioned decision in time - 2002 at the latest for the low growth scenario) and unwillingness of the government to accept responsibility for this and do something about it. "In May last year Mlambo-Ngcuka stressed that there was “no power-generation capacity crisis” in South Africa. " She (meanwhile promoted to vice-president) was also the one who said we should look at Zimbabwe, with its 1050% inflation, as an example of how to conduct land reform. Great economical visionary she seems to be...

(3) Eskom wasn't prevented from starting to put plans into action to be "ready to roll" when they were certain troubles were looming after the 2002 low economic growth deadline for starting to build new stations. Also, before that time is was already very clear that economic growth is medium to high.

Gunner, according to international standards standards there should be a 15% reserve in capacity at peak daily usage time. By the time the NP lost government the reserve capacity was still more than enough and would still be for a number of years. The deadline for starting to build new stations to maintain that buffer capacity was between 1998 and 2002 - DURING THE TIME THE ANC PROHIBITED ESKOM TO BUILD NEW STATIONS. I'm not defending the NP, merely stating the facts. Also, political parties don't build power stations. They may initialise it or prohibit it, though. Not entirely sure whether you're comment is tongue-in-the-cheek or if you're serious...:-)

Answer 1

the national party should have done that years ago but the country was bankrupt then

Answer 2

In 1998, the government ordered eskom to stop building new power stations, in order to encourage more activity by independent power suppliers. But things did not work as expected, and very few independent suppliers were attracted, resulting in power shortages.

The ban was lifted in 2004 in light of this, and new power stations are now being planned.

Here's an article, if you're interested:

http://whiskeykitten.wordpress.com/2006/03/page/2/

Answer 3

Not forgetting the Eskom closed powerstations in the late 1980's and early 1990's. The are now working against the clock to bring these stations back onto the national grid. The powerstations where stripped and left in a mess. Spares are a joke. Now they are bringing Americans in to help. Heaven help us as they have no idea of our powerstations. Its a circus.

Answer 4

Because South Africa is run by idiots that think the crime is not that bad and that we still be able to host the 2010. They waste money on name changes and useless stuff like that.

Answer 5

Why would they build new power stations when it is so much easier to give the chairman and other staff huge salaries?
Why...when they know there are dum South African who will vote them in again?

Besides, who the hell are we as tax paying South Africans to have good services?

Answer 6

because they`re concerned with the money in their own pockets and not the rest of us. Just like all the rest of the people in charge around us in SA/

Answer 7

THEY WANT TO WASTE OUR MONEY ON KAK!!!!!!!!!!!!

They don't care about us!!!!

Answer 8

erm let me see... oh, i got it... EISHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!