By Daiyaan Halim, Field Editor
Total national electricity generation in South Africa fell by 0.2 percent year-on-year (y/y) to 21,197GWh in November 2018, according to preliminary data released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).
The reduction in electricity generation by state-utility Eskom was greater at -1.1 percent y/y during the same period, suggesting that alternative electricity producers and imports played a more significant role in power production during 2018 compared to the previous year.
Independent Power Producers (IPPs) made up 9.7 percent of total generation at 2,060GWh, while electricity inflow into the country grew by approximately one-third y/y to 764GWh in November.
During the first 11 months of 2018, total electricity production grew by 1,270GWh compared to the same period in 2017, while Eskom’s contribution to production reduced by 648GWh.
Accounting for import growth of 952GWh, this data suggests that IPPs contributed an estimated 972GWh of electricity between January and November 2018 over the previous year.
While total electricity production decreased, consumption increased by 0.9 percent y/y in November 2018. According to Stats SA, there was no increase in consumption of electricity produced by Eskom.
