Electricity utility Eskom has extended the deadline, to May 11, for responses to a request for proposals (RFP) to participate in its Short-Term Power Purchase Programme (STPPP), owing to the imposition of a 21-day lockdown in South Africa in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The initial bid submission deadline was April 30.
Through the STPPP Eskom intends contracting with those South African or regional entities able to supply short-term power, at an affordable rate, so as to reduce a supply gap that had developed as a result of poor production rates at its new coal-fired power stations, as well as its under maintained coal fleet.
Prior to the pandemic, Eskom estimated that the shortfall could be as large as 5 000 MW for the coming 18 months as it began implementing so-called ‘philosophy maintenance’, whereby deviations from prescribed service and repair protocols and intervals would no longer be tolerated.
The initial bid submission deadline was April 30.
Through the STPPP Eskom intends contracting with those South African or regional entities able to supply short-term power, at an affordable rate, so as to reduce a supply gap that had developed as a result of poor production rates at its new coal-fired power stations, as well as its under maintained coal fleet.
Prior to the pandemic, Eskom estimated that the shortfall could be as large as 5 000 MW for the coming 18 months as it began implementing so-called ‘philosophy maintenance’, whereby deviations from prescribed service and repair protocols and intervals would no longer be tolerated.
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GM for risk and sustainability Andrew Etzinger tells Engineering News & Mining Weekly that Eskom is still analysing the potential impact that the pandemic, and the country’s response to it, could have on electricity demand once the lockdown ends.
Demand slumped by over 9 000 MW once the lockdown came into force at midnight on March 26, enabling Eskom to shut certain coal and nuclear units and ramp-up risk-based maintenance. The full implementation of philosophy maintenance was postponed, however.
Etzinger says the decision to reintroduce the STPPP scheme was made after Eskom was forced to declare State 6 load-shedding for the first time ever on December 9 and the RFP was released on March 23 after all governance approvals were secured.
Read more......
Demand slumped by over 9 000 MW once the lockdown came into force at midnight on March 26, enabling Eskom to shut certain coal and nuclear units and ramp-up risk-based maintenance. The full implementation of philosophy maintenance was postponed, however.
Etzinger says the decision to reintroduce the STPPP scheme was made after Eskom was forced to declare State 6 load-shedding for the first time ever on December 9 and the RFP was released on March 23 after all governance approvals were secured.
Read more......
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