South Africa CRISIS: Two years of POWER CUTS planned after water shortage chaos
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1055202/south-africa-crisis-power-cuts-cape-to
SOUTH African residents are bracing for rolling power cuts that could last up to two years following extreme water shortages in Cape Town.The South African city has been suffering from extreme water shortages. Cape Town locals have been forced to reuse buckets of water to wash, limit loo flushes or risk being fined if they go over an imposed water limit. State-owned Eskom who generates, supports and distributes electricity to more than five million households in South Africa announced the measures in a bid to “protect” power supply.
The power cuts, also known as load-shedding, was a measure taken by Eskom to “protect the electricity power system from a total blackout”.
Eskom is reportedly struggling with debts of more than $30 billion and according to chairman Jabu Mabuza the power company is “locked into a permanent loss-making position.”
There has also been a dip in the supply of coal needed for the main power stations as earnings flatline and late payment of bills by large local authorities, all major customers for Eskom, have sparked havoc for the state-owned company.
Widespread corruption across country is another potential reason cited for Eskom’s recent struggles, The Times reports.Goldman Sachs has warned the economy is going to struggle without power and Eskom alone represents “the biggest risk to South Africa’s economy”.
Eskom said a potential country wide blackout would have much more serious consequences than no lights.
Power cuts can last up to two and a half hours a day for up to five days a week.
When other countries have experienced blackouts, power has been restored in a number of hours by tapping into a neighbours power system.
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