Universal access to electricity for South Africa in 2012?

23 September 2009

The South African electricity company Eskom is planning to invest billions of Dollars in its energy infrastructures over the next ten years in order to cover the country’s demand, according to CEO Kannan Lakmmeharan.

“Our aim of universal access to electricity in 2012 will be hard to achieve”, he added, however, when interviewed by Reuters press agency.

He cited shortage of funds and technical expertise as a major obstacle in advancing the (present) connection rate of 70% to 100%.

Eskom has just put in place an expansion plan worth 52 billion Dollars to develop its network, but is still seeking to raise the funds for the construction of a new electricity generating station.

In Kannan Lakmmeharan’s view, the solution would be to involve the private sector, with the aim of the companies concerned financing, constructing, and operating certain key infrastructures.<br/>

Category: Energy