[ad_1]
4 weeks after Alec Hogg’s fascinating interview with then Eskom guide and former COO Jan Oberholzer, {the electrical} engineer returned to the identical venue to supply an replace on the tenth BizNews birthday celebration. Having solely lately departed Eskom, nicely forward of the expiry of his contract, Oberholzer defined the explanation for the sudden departure and shared his views on how lengthy South Africa can be affected by scarce electrical energy – intensive energy cuts which the nation is aware of by a extra well mannered title of ‘loadshedding’. That is the primary a part of his contribution, an interview with the BizNews founder.
Join your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to maintain you up to the mark with the content material that issues. The publication will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register right here.
Watch right here
Pay attention right here
Edited transcript of Alec Hogg’s interview with Jan Oberholzer on the BizNews tenth birthday celebration
Alec Hogg: I solely met Jan Oberholzer a month in the past after studying Andre De Ruyter’s e book – him being the star ‘different character’ in that e book. Jan is the previous chief working officer of Eskom. Till very lately, he was on a two yr contract with Eskom after 1 / 4 century of service. However he’s left. And naturally, I initially thought our latest interview could have been the explanation for it, however fortunately not. Once we sat right here 4 weeks in the past you stated “my bloed is blou” – my blood is blue – since you’re an Eskomite. There weren’t many individuals on this viewers who had been with us that evening so simply to elucidate what being an Eskomite means….
Learn extra: BN@10: Rob Hersov ‘reserves a particular place in Hell’ for appeasing SA enterprise execs
Jan Oberholzer: Thanks, Alec. My dad labored for Eskom for 25 years, and though we didn’t stay in an Eskom home, I grew up in that surroundings. My father wasn’t a typical workplace employee; he was constructing wood pole traces in rural areas. As a younger boy, I’d typically accompany him throughout weekends and faculty holidays to observe him work.
I then turned an Eskom bursar, with the bursary initially given to my father due to his years of service. I studied for a very long time, however to start with, rugby took priority over research. Whereas I used to be learning, I additionally did trip work at Eskom, and finally, I labored for Eskom for 26 years, climbing via the ranks.
I’ve at all times discovered by doing, progressing solely after mastering my present duties. Reflecting on this expertise, I realise that you simply want teaching and mentoring. After 26 years, I ventured outdoors Eskom to grow to be a contractor. The CEO later advised me that I wasn’t really a contractor, which I understood, given my robust worth of moral behaviour.
After leaving the contracting world, I spent two years in Zambia and Lusaka whereas my household stayed again house. Later, in 2018, I used to be approached to hitch Eskom once more, and I accepted the supply. I served because the Group Chief Working Officer for 5 years earlier than being requested to remain on for 2 extra years as a guide.
Not too long ago, I’ve determined it’s time for me to go away Eskom, however there’s no unhealthy blood between us. I consider I can add worth elsewhere, given my intensive expertise and understanding of the South African electrical energy business. The plans that we’ve put in place will make a big enchancment if carried out diligently. My new position as a guide didn’t work for me, and I really feel it’s time to maneuver on.
Alec Hogg: Two weeks in the past, you appeared absolutely dedicated. What occurred?
Jan Oberholzer: I consider I can add extra worth elsewhere. Regardless of the challenges within the business, I see optimistic developments. Nevertheless it’s exhausting to change from telling folks what to do to merely advising them. I really feel it’s time for me to get outdoors Eskom. There’s no animosity; I’ll at all times be out there to advise my former colleagues.
When talking overtly and truthfully, typically it’s painful for others to listen to. I consider that working for Eskom means serving the nation. It’s essential to contribute positively to the lives of the folks. Should you work for Eskom, you could serve the nation.
Learn extra: BN@10: Herman Mashaba – Depend me out of any coalition that features the prison ANC
Alec Hogg: Working for the state or public sector typically means being in service. Concerning electrical energy, it was the spark for the second industrial revolution, and now the world is within the fourth industrial revolution however electrical energy in South Africa is erratic. When will we attain some extent the place it’s secure?
Jan Oberholzer: Alec, the primary time we had stage six load-shedding was on the ninth of December 2019. Many individuals don’t do not forget that or speak about it, and that’s fairly irritating. It occurred when the state president was in Egypt, and he returned to South Africa two days later. I needed to face him together with Deputy President Mabuza, Minister of Minerals and Vitality Mantashe, and the minister on the time of Public Enterprises. I needed to clarify why it occurred, utilizing the analogy of a automobile.
Should you think about Eskom’s energy stations, the coal-fired energy plant’s common age is 44 years for those who exclude Medupi and Kusile, which have their challenges too. So in case you have outdated automobiles and also you don’t keep them, solely placing in gas, water, and air if wanted, and driving together with your foot on the accelerator, you’ll finally face challenges.
I attempted to elucidate that our state of affairs is sort of a damaged automobile that’s taken to any mechanic fairly than the producer, with spare elements not prescribed for that automobile. Deputy President Wilson appeared to know that we’d like new automobiles, new energy stations. We’d like extra capability, to not exchange the outdated ones, however so as to add to them.
I advised the President that we urgently want 4,000 to six,000 megawatts of capability, and that was three and a half years in the past. Our outdated energy stations are coming to the tip of life, and renewables like wind and solar will not be at all times out there. We’d like a hybrid resolution of capability to satisfy the nation’s calls for, and we have to work collectively as a workforce in South Africa to attain this.
Alec Hogg: However you haven’t actually answered the query. How lengthy are we nonetheless going to have load-shedding? How lengthy will our economic system nonetheless be hindered by this?
Jan Oberholzer: It’s exhausting to pinpoint a time-frame. Eskom will proceed to have vital challenges as a result of the demand exceeds what is out there, and it’s unpredictable and unreliable. However there’s a optimistic improvement with the brand new energy station at Kusile, including 2 100 megawatts, and one other 700 plus from unit quantity 5, which is shut to a few phases of load-shedding. Eskom’s give attention to upkeep may also make a optimistic contribution.
Maybe in the direction of the center, finish of subsequent yr, issues will end up significantly better.
Alec Hogg: Attention-grabbing, as a result of the ANC, it appears, is banking on an enchancment originally of subsequent yr forward of the 2024 Nationwide Election. If the Moonshot Pact events win the subsequent election, what would your recommendation be to the possibly new minister of vitality…..?
Jan Oberholzer: My recommendation can be to know the ‘crystal ball,’ a long-term view of fifty years. Perceive what the demand goes to be, how know-how will influence it, the impact of local weather change, how manufacturing processes will change. We have to consider the demand and the prevailing vitality combine to determine what is required for the longer term.
The present Built-in Useful resource Plan (IRP) is meaningless. Persons are saying we solely want renewables, however what we require is a hybrid resolution. Sure to photo voltaic, hydro, nuclear, hydrogen. It is advisable perceive what it is advisable fulfill the demand. That’s the recommendation.
Learn additionally:
Visited 129 occasions, 129 go to(s) at the moment
[ad_2]
Source link
