Eskom, Anglo sign power pact

Johannesburg - Anglo American and Eskom have signed an agreement to guarantee the country's power supply, they said in a statement on Wednesday.

Under the memorandum of understanding (MOU), a strategic co-operation would be established to identify and implement solutions to guarantee the integrity of the electricity supply, they said.

"The MOU provides a framework for Anglo American and Eskom to co-operate on their respective future energy requirements, including energy provision and coal supplies."

The MOU also aimed to facilitate the optimisation of scarce resources; conceptualisation and implementation of energy efficiency programmes; skills development; sustainable development; and research and development initiatives, such as clean coal technologies and carbon sequestration potential.

"It is of critical importance that we play our part in addressing South Africa's energy challenge," said Anglo American chief executive Cynthia Carroll.

Anglo American was committed to working with Eskom to finding solutions to support the country's national energy needs, she said.

"This MOU will facilitate a co-ordinated approach to developing new and creative cost-effective solutions to serve and benefit the country and ensure consistent energy supply to the nation."

According to Eskom chief executive Jacob Maroga, the power utility had been working with Anglo American for some time "as part of the national response to the energy supply challenge.

"This MOU will provide a framework from which we can work together to optimise synergies, scarce resources and skills, and to secure and stabilise power generation and distribution," he said.

- SAPA