No loadshedding (scheduled power cuts) for 2 months now.

Less than a year after he was appointed the head of Eskom’s generation division, Bheki Nxumalo has achieved what many experts thought impossible — improving the state of the power utility’s ageing coal fleet and delivering a lasting break in load-shedding.

Nxumalo’s appointment as the national power supplier, Eskom, group executive for generation was announced on 14 April 2023. He had extensive experience in operations, power station management, and production.

Nxumalo’s career in the energy sector started over two decades ago, and he has been working at Eskom since 2010.

Before taking on his latest role, he was Eskom Enterprise and Eskom Rotek Industries CEO. He also served as station manager at two power plants, and was general manager at newly built 4,800MW Kusile power station.

At his appointment as head of generation, Nxumalo said he was honoured to take up the position at a critical time.

“I literally grew up in Eskom. I strongly believe that Eskom has the technical and managerial capability to turn things around,” Nxumalo said.

“The majority of Eskom employees are passionate about their work and company. I know that I can count on the support of my colleagues in Exco and the new Eskom board to make this a reality.”

Under Nxumalo’s leadership, Eskom has not implemented load-shedding in nearly two months — the longest break since August and September 2021.

The power utility has received some help from a reduction in overall and peak electricity demand in early 2024 compared to previous years.

This decline has been driven by increased private rooftop solar generation among households and businesses.

However, according to Eskom’s recent system status outlooks, its coal fleet’s energy availability factor (EAF) has also improved significantly.

The EAF shows the portion of Eskom’s total nominal capacity available to provide power over a certain period.

Another indication that things have taken a turn for the better is the unplanned outage factor dropping to around 25% in recent weeks, where it was well over 35% at the same time last year.

EE Business Intelligence head and energy expert Chris Yelland labelled the turnaround “remarkable”.

He expected load-shedding in 2024 to be roughly the same as in 2023, but so far, it has been substantially less severe.

Eskom and electricity minister Kgosienthso Ramokgopa has credited the improvement to the implementation of Eskom’s Generation Recovery Plan, developed by the utility’s board.

Board chair Mtetho Nyati said having a comprehensive maintenance plan was essential, but that any plan was only as good as its execution.

“You can have a plan, but if you do not implement it, then it is useless. That is a big problem in South Africa. We dream, but we can never execute.”

He said that changes to Eskom’s management team, particularly Nxumalo’s appointment, transformed the company.

Since his appointment, Nxumalo has reviewed Eskom’s plant managers and other senior employees at its power stations.

This has resulted in extensive changes to the leadership at some of the utility’s worst-performing power stations.

Nyati said the new board spoke to power station managers and listened to them, allowing them to discover the systemic issues affecting the business.

They learned that six power stations contributed to 70% of Eskom’s unit failures, while five power stations were performing well.

Armed with this knowledge, the management team devised a plan to maintain the good performance while rapidly improving the six plants whose performance was below par.

Eskom focused its planned maintenance schedule on improving these plants rather than five that were performing quite well.

The utility has also enlisted the services of original equipment manufacturers to ensure that the maintenance work has a long-lasting impact.

As a result of these changes, Eskom has conducted more maintenance in the last year than in the previous three.

“This is why Eskom is where it is now,” he said.

Bring the guy to Nigeria

I need to understand something,we have coal in abundance coupled with our gas. Why not use both of those to improve our power sector?

michlins:
I need to understand something,we have coal in abundance coupled with our gas. Why not use both of those to improve our power sector?

Yes but without skills, infrastructure development and maintenance, the coal and gas will just sit there and rot.

Giant of Africa still loadshadding electric power for over 100 years

MMWandali:
Giant of Africa still loadshadding electric power for over 100 years

Hold agbado responsible

Greetings

michlins:
I need to understand something,we have coal in abundance coupled with our gas. Why not use both of those to improve our power sector?

Some few Individuals benefits from the sufferings of the Nigerian masses

Good. We need more these guys in Africa

michlins:
I need to understand something,we have coal in abundance coupled with our gas. Why not use both of those to improve our power sector?

Ask buhari. What he signed during world environmental summit in France.

MMWandali:
Giant of Africa still loadshadding electric power for over 100 years

Nigeria isn't even load-shedding, because why would some places be without power for days, weeks, months, years, several years? That's not load-shedding, that's wickedness.

Load-shedding in SA means power cut for a few minutes to a few hours each day. Not the entire day

Nigerian politicians are not ready to govern anybody.

Nicepoker:
Ask buhari. What he signed during world environmental summit in France.

USA is using coal, UK is using coal, major economies are all using coal including China.

What did he sign that made it impossible for us to use coal please

In Nigeria,they will say he is against the President because they are not from the same ethnic Group

Nigeria,a Country where poor people defend corrupt politicians because they are from the same tribe

pointblank247:
Bring the guy to Nigeria

E no go last 1 month before em run back .

All thanks to solar

MzansiCoolio:


Yes but without skills, infrastructure development and maintenance, the coal and gas will just sit there and rot.

not all this u label,some government people or in power,don't want good for Nigeria,we re going to see Siemens own soon

pointblank247:
Bring the guy to Nigeria

if he comes to Nigeria,he will be sabotaged.

michlins:
I need to understand something,we have coal in abundance coupled with our gas. Why not use both of those to improve our power sector?

The comment below yours echoes a common sentiment: we're missing the know-how to harness these resources for reliable power. Additionally, the absence of genuine political commitment, untainted by corruption, has severely hindered Nigeria's energy sector.

pointblank247:
Bring the guy to Nigeria

Make government use tax kill am abi?

michlins:
USA is using coal, UK is using coal, major economies are all using coal including China.

What did he sign that made it impossible for us to use coal please

I am aware even Taiwan biggest power plant is powered with coal.

If you investigate, you will find out the man may not have shares in any of the power companies, unlike Nigeria where those implementing the law will also be the ones hindering the law because of selfish interests 😭

😎

Nigeria needs help

pointblank247:
Bring the guy to Nigeria

to come and do what?

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We are still dealing with one bst adebolu here

Because elections are here

michlins:
USA is using coal, UK is using coal, major economies are all using coal including China.

What did he sign that made it impossible for us to use coal please

Nigerian leaders and being oh-yes boys
And their citizens just go about their daily lives like zombies