POWER DEBT
Eskom to cut power to indebted eMalahleni
Lights out over the festive season as the council fails to reach a repayment agreement with power utility
It will be lights out in eMalahleni Local Municipality this festive season after the council failed to reach a repayment agreement with Eskom for its power bill. The council, in the Nkangala District in Mpumalanga, owes the power utility R1.2bn, while the total debt owed to Eskom by other municipalities is R12.4bn. After months of negotiations and engagements, Eskom announced it would carry out scheduled power interruptions to the council, starting from Thursday December 14, and the power utility would serve formal notice this week on how the process would be conducted. The municipality encompasses Witbank, and the Nkangala District is home to the Duvha and Kendal power stations, as well as Kusile, which is under construction. The area is also known for coal production, with a number of mines operating in it. Makana Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape and Thaba Chweu Local Municipality in Mpumalanga are in talks with Eskom to avoid facing the same fate during the holidays. Eskom ...
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