Given the socioeconomic challenges facing South Africa, State-owned Eskom chairperson and acting CE Dr Jabu Mabuza has reiterated the power utility’s support for an energy mix that is based on providing reliable energy for the country.

This should be a “practical energy mix”, he told delegates attending the Joburg Indaba, adding that the mix should be able to meet the energy demands of the country, while balancing the grid.

Therefore, he proposed industrywide collaboration to be undertaken to co-create the energy future for South Africa.

Additionally, he touched on the importance of the country keeping abreast of technological advances to further enhance electricity generation and the coal mining industry.

However, he warned that the transition from conventional energy technology to renewable-energy technology components had to be approached with caution if the country was to avoid “dire consequences”.

The various energy sources should not be viewed as competition, but rather as complementary, he added.

Further, Mabuza reiterated, the “significant” importance of a stable supply of good-quality coal to Eskom’s operations. The utility had reviewed its coal strategy, reverting to favouring dedicated long-term coal contracts with a preference for coal delivery by conveyor from nearby mines, he elaborated.

Commenting on this strategy, Mabuza said the strategy had enabled Eskom to achieve optimal coal costs, “while ensuring the security of coal supply”.

The strategy also makes provision for the entity to source 1.3-billion tonnes of uncontracted coal to cover the life of all Eskom’s coal-fired power stations.

Mabuza further appealed to the South African mining industry to ensure that the cost of coal “shouldn’t be among Eskom’s challenges”, although he acknowledged that most of the challenges Eskom was facing were of the entity’s own making.