Eskom: More import, less export

2008-05-14 21:39

Sherilee Bridge

Johannesburg - Eskom emphasised that while it was still exporting power to neighbouring countries, it was also importing power from neighbouring states.

"What is important is that we are in a net import position," said Eskom general manager demand side management Andrew Etzinger.

Speaking at a breakfast briefing hosted by the French-South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Etzinger said while Eskom's exports had increased, so had its imports to a degree that the imports were higher.

Statistics South Africa last week released the latest official data on electricity generated and available for distribution for March, and these figures show South Africa's electricity exports increased 6.1% in the three months to March this year compared with the same period last year, while electricity imports in the first three months of this year were down 22.4%, compared with the same period last year.

Generating 95% of the electricity produced in South Africa, Eskom came under fire for continuing to export electricity at a time when the country was faced with unprecedented power shortages and blackouts.

'Look closer'

But as Etzinger suggests, the figures have to be studied more closely.

"What has happened is yes, our exports have grown, but our imports have also grown as well to a very, very large extent," as Etzinger said.

He explained that through the Southern African Power Pool a country may sell power to another country, but part of the agreement is that the equivalent of the sale is replaced through an import of the same quantity is put back in the grid.

Say 1MW is sold and another is purchased; that 1MW is recorded as an export when it is actually cancelling out the 1MW supplied.

"What is important is to look at physical power flowing across versus the actual traded power," Etzinger explained.

"In terms of real electricity leaving South Africa we are exporting less, our exports are coming down. But if you look at electricity trade in South Africa it has increased, which leads to the perception that we are exporting more and more," he said.

According to Statistic South Africa's March figures, Eskom imported 2 325 gigawatt-hours (GWh) between January and March this year while it exported 3 515GWh.

This still means it provided neighbouring countries with 203GWh more energy while bringing in 670GWh hours less - resulting in a 684GWh decrease in the amount of power available for domestic distribution.

It also means Eskom exported 5.8% of its production over the three months to end March.

Etzinger is backed by Public Enetrprises Minister Alec Erwin who told parliament on Wednesday that demands that South Africa stop its electricity exports to neighbouring countries amounted to "economic xenophobia".

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