What is behind the country’s worst energy crisis in decades? | DW News

What is behind the country’s worst energy crisis in decades? | DW News

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a state of disaster on Thursday to combat severe electricity shortages that have crippled the country’s economy.
In recent months, state energy company Eskom has been forced to schedule power outages for up to 12 hours a day, a practice known as loadshedding.
The country’s economic growth is now projected to fall to just 0.3% this year compared to 2.5% last year.
“We are therefore declaring a national state of disaster to respond to the electricity crisis and its effects,” Ramaphosa said at a his annual State of the Nation Address in Cape Town.
Eskom has racked up debts and struggled to maintain the country’s coal-powered electricity infrastructure. The electricity provider was mired in corruption scandals under former President Jacob Zuma.
Declaring a state of disaster allows the government to follow emergency procurement procedures with fewer regulations and bureaucratic hurdles.
It also unlocks additional funding for the government to quickly buy new energy equipment, such as generators and solar panels.

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