South Africa's national power utility Eskom anticipates that the power shortage will continue until the commissioning of the 4,800 MW Medupi and Kusile coal-fired power plants in 12 to 18 months. Rolling power cuts started in November 2014 following a dramatic reduction in the available capacity of the 3,600 MW Majuba coal-fired power plant (incident affecting the supply of five of the six units). The 4.8 GW Medupi coal-fired power plant was expected to be commissioned in December 2014 but it will start progressively between 2015 and 2018. The 4.8 GW Kusile project will also be commissioned between 2015 and 2018. The power system will thus remain tight until the completion of the repairs at Majuba and the commissioning of the first new units.
South Africa is facing a soaring electricity demand (+15% between 2000 and 2007 when it peaked at 219 TWh) and is struggling to adapt its power infrastructure, dependent on polluting coal-fired power plants and obsolescent power grid. Between 2000 and 2008, only 1,800 MW were added; installations accelerated until 2013 (48 GW installed, i.e. 4.9 GW added since 2008).
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