Cahora Bassa cuts Eskom's power
2002-10-18 11:21
Johannesburg - Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) has suspended its power supply to Eskom as from midnight on Thursday night in a dispute over tariffs, Eskom said on Friday morning.
Eskom spokesperson Tony Stott said in a media statement: "HCB
presumes that Eskom has reached its full capacity, and hence
according to the supply agreement of 1988, Eskom is obligated to
pay HCB a higher tariff."
Stott said Eskom had contracted with HCB to purchase 750mW daily under the 1988 agreement. As from January 2002, Eskom had continued with this arrangement and had bought a total of 5 808GWh to date at an agreed tariff.
Stott said Eskom still had surplus capacity, and expected this
would continue until 2007. Eskom has continued to make payments to HCB throughout the year "at the applicable tariff," and would meet HCB in order to reach an acceptable solution.
Customers would not be affected in any way, Stott said.
- SAPA