Blackout fears for economy

Nelson Mandela Bay business expresses concern over effects of ongoing power crunch.

Organised business in Nelson Mandela Bay is gravely concerned about how expected rolling blackouts will affect the Eastern Cape economy for the next three years.

On Thursday, Eskom chief executive Tshediso Matona confirmed the business community’s worst fears that Eskom would not be able to guarantee reliable supply of electricity to South Africa – for at least the next three years.

Matona said South Africa would have to learn to live with recurrent electricity cuts because Eskom had to build new capacity while playing catch-up with the maintenance of its old‚ neglected power stations.

He said it was no longer a question of whether there would be load shedding, but rather how people would deal with it.

Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber chief executive Kevin Hustler said Eskom’s problems could severely impact the region’s economy.