Former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter says South Africa’s recent suspension of load shedding can be largely credited to the rapid growth of private solar power, combined with returning coal-fired units and increased diesel generation.
In an interview, De Ruyter highlighted the critical role that private households and businesses have played in alleviating pressure on the national grid through large-scale rooftop solar installations.
‘Remarkable achievement’
“In just 18 months, private individuals and companies have added 6.1 gigawatts of generation capacity – the equivalent of one-and-a-half Medupi power stations,” said De Ruyter.
“This is a remarkable achievement when you consider that Medupi took 15 years to complete.”
He stressed that this development represents a fundamental shift in South Africa’s energy landscape, and that the impact is now clearly visible.
According to De Ruyter, cloudy days in Gauteng result in a noticeable drop in available power, illustrating how dependent the grid has become on solar output.
In addition to solar, De Ruyter pointed to several coal generation units returning to service, particularly at the Kusile power station.
Units 1, 2, and 3 – each contributing 800 megawatts – have been brought back online, restoring a combined 2.4 gigawatts. Units 5 and 6 at Kusile have also reached beneficial operation, further strengthening supply.
‘Life-extension project’
He also noted progress at the Koeberg nuclear power station.
While the life-extension project began before his tenure, De Ruyter confirmed that both of Koeberg’s units – each capable of generating 920 megawatts – are now fully operational following the successful replacement of steam generators.
However, De Ruyter cautioned that part of the current stability is being maintained through unsustainable means.
He revealed that Eskom’s diesel generation budget has surged from R5 billion to between R23 and R24 billion this year, enabling short-term relief, but at a high cost.
“It costs about R6 per kilowatt-hour to generate electricity from diesel.
“If you have unlimited money to throw at diesel, then problems magically go away – but this is not a sustainable approach,” he warned.
The former CEO’s comments underscore the growing importance of renewable energy in South Africa’s power mix, and the need for long-term planning that reduces reliance on expensive emergency measures.
