South African food producer RFG Holdings will complete solar installations at seven of its production facilities over the next 18 month, accelerating its renewable energy program as the State-owned power utility struggles to meet demand for electricity.
The group is planning capital expenditure of R280-million for the 2023 financial year, including new generators and the replacement of existing ones in response to so-called loadshedding, according to its results report published on Wednesday. RFG spent R37.8-million on diesel for back-up power in the six months through April 2 and at current levels of blackouts its weekly average fuel cost is about R2-million, the company said.
RFG is among a growing number of businesses that are being forced to supply their own electricity as Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. implements daily blackouts.