SA power generation delays may hamper carbon footprint reduction

At the same time, independent coal sector consultant, Xavier Prevost, says that South Africa is the country most dependent on coal-for-energy in the world, at 93%, followed by Poland at 90%, China at 79% and Australia at 76%.

Eskom's internal target of a 34% reduction in its carbon footprint is hampered by delays in the establishment of new power generation capacity, with construction of the large 4,788 MW Medupi power station now running well behind schedule, and indications that the 4,800 MW Kusile power station will also run late. South Africa's electricity shortfall is critical and it seems that the fact that the South African public has not suffered rolling blackouts may have lulled it away from realising that the country is in the midst of an electricity crisis.

South Africa's energy problems may be summed up by the fact that between 1994 and 2008 the country experienced about 64% growth in its GDP but only a 14% growth in power capacity -- and this gap is impacting its future economic growth, ESI Africa says.

Read the full article on www.esi-africa.com.