DA: Eskom's diesel reliance proves its state of disaster

The embattled power giant revealed this week that it's had to burn through around 40-million litres of diesel this month to help keep the country's lights on. 

The party's shadow minister of mineral resources and energy, Kevin Mileham says Eskom has proved that it's not able to solve South Africa's 14-year-old load shedding crisis. 

"At a time when diesel is in short supply in South Africa and refining capacity is at an all-time low, 40 million litres represents more than R800 million that could have been utilised to add new generation to the grid," he says.

READ: eThekwini 'not exempt from load shedding'

"Instead, it is being used to prop up Eskom, which is increasingly unable to keep the lights on.

"Last week, the DA submitted a request to cabinet for Eskom to be declared a state of disaster, in order to fast track the licencing and application process for new generation. 

"Prioritise budgets to focus on new generation capacity and make it easier for citizens, businesses and municipalities to generate their own electricity and procure directly from independent power producers."