Question NW238 to the Minister of Public Enterprises
22 March 2023 - NW238
Van Minnen, Ms BM to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
Whether he has plans in place to assist Eskom purchase the required diesel for the rest of the financial year, given Eskom’s vast overspend in the current financial year; if not, what is the proposed way forward; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Eskom diesel funding until the financial year was addressed through the approval by National Treasury Guarantee for the entity to borrow additional R4 billion to R5 billion in the capital markets. Any further assistance will depend on the financial projections for 2023/24 and NERSA’s decision on what may be recoverable in tariffs. The challenges presented by the pricing policy of PetroSA and the fate of the license application by Eskom to be designated an importer will also have a bearing on this matter.
It is absolutely self-evident that the cost of diesel usage pales into insignificance compared to the compared to the cost imposed on the economy and citizens by excessive loadshedding.
Remarks: Approved / Not Approved
Jacky Molisane Pravin Gordhan, MP
Acting Director-General Minister
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