Daily News Articles for the Energy Sector, 2008

Thursday, 6 August 2008 (Johannesburg): Eskom has put a 24-hour halt to all coal road transportation and logistics in order for the organisation and its coal transporters to reflect on safety following an increase in road safety incidents. During the past month, a total of 55 accidents were reported in which 16 people were fatally injured.

Between 06h00 this morning (Thursday, 07 August 2008) and 06h00 tomorrow morning (Friday, 08 August 2008), Eskom will not take delivery of coal transported to its stockyards and crushing facilities. Coal transporters have been requested to use the work stoppage time to discuss safety related issues, review recent safety incidents, and retrain drivers on revised safe work procedures.

“During the past month Eskom has experienced an exceptionally high number of accidents relating to coal road transportation. We are extremely concerned,” says Eskom’s Chief Executive Mr Jacob Maroga.

“The intention of the exercise is to reinforce the importance of safety and to ensure that workers return home to their families at the end of each day. I would like to re-emphasise to everyone involved in coal road transportation that no work is more important than human life. We cannot allow this carnage on our roads to continue unabated,” Maroga cautioned.

About 133 700 tons of coal is transported daily to 11 power stations across the country using more than 1500 trucks across the country. Currently, coal stockpiles in Eskom power stations is at an average of 25,7 days. Today’s action will result in the current level of coal stock piles in Eskom power stations reducing by no more than two system days.

Power supply will not be affected during this 24 hour stoppage of coal road transportation.

END