Eskom signs agreement with Dutch Embassy & lands support from Botswana

South African power generator Eskom has signed an agreement with the Netherlands Embassy to come up with energy initiatives.

The embattled power supplier released a statement that it has signed a letter of intent with an aim to collaborate on two Just Energy Transition initiatives at Grootvlei Power station based in Mpumalanga.

Backed by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, the collaboration includes a pre-feasibility study for climate-conscious and agricultural development on the site and a sustainable approach to repurposing it.

“By supporting a participative, multi-stakeholder process to develop transition pathways and creating new, green employment opportunities, the Just Energy Transition at Grootvlei can become an inspiration, and blueprint for other sites that will also transition,” said Eskom in a statement.

“These repurposing opportunities will be employed in addition to the renewable energy repowering options that are currently being assessed for the site.

“Eskom is therefore committed to ensuring that the socio-economic and environmental benefits of transitioning are realised, that employees and communities are involved in finding the solutions, and that the transition does not exacerbate the already high unemployment rate in our country, but results in a net increase in sustainable jobs.”

Eskom also announced that the Just Energy Transition in the country should accelerate a green and inclusive economy and leave no one behind.

Furthermore, media reports surfaced that the government of Botswana is also planning to aid Eskom.

Through the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), the neighbouring nation has expressed the desire to sell its off-peak generated power to Eskom since electricity can’t be stored on any scale and fluctuation can put a strain on generators.

“BPC has therefore started engaging Eskom to purchase the excess electricity supply generated during off-peak times (weekends) in order to protect our plants against load management fluctuations and also to ensure that surplus electricity has a secured market,” BPC said in a statement.