Cash-strapped South African power supplier Eskom has announced the company plans to move away from costly diesel to using gas for its generators within the next three years.
Eskom, responsible for supplying 95% of South Africa’s electricity, has been forced to lead a series of rolling blackouts across the country since March 2014 as the company struggles to meet its daily demand of around 30,000 megawatts.
Because Eskom depends on diesel-powered turbines at the moment for most of its power, President Jacob Zuma directed state-owned Eskom to switch to gas in order to save money.
“It’s a gradual process, it is going to take between two to three years,” said Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe.
Phasiwe added, “Once those negotiations have been concluded then we will gradually move into gas.”
At the moment, Eskom is in talks with Mozambique and Namibia, both home to large natural gas deposits.
