Eskom saved R16 billion in reduced diesel usage: Electricity Minister

Eskom has managed to save approximately R16 billion this year from reduction in diesel usage.

Last year, the power utility spent about R30 billion burning diesel using open gas turbines. This was during efforts to keep the lights on when there was heavy load shedding.

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says while Eskom spent less on diesel this year, the power utility has seen an increase in the use of diesel since the beginning of December.

“We’ve been able to save about R16.6 billion just from stopping to burn diesel, so we have spent R16.6 billion less than what was spent in a similar period last year but from the beginning of December until the 19th, we have seen an increase in the use of diesel.”

Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa hosts last EAP media briefing for 2024