Eskom staffer and energy fundi pens book on load shedding
Dr Isaac Malgas holds a doctoral degree in Energy Studies from the University of Cape Town.
Isaac Malgas, author of "Power Struggle: Why Rolling Blackouts Continue"
Lester Kiewit speaks to Dr Isaac Malgas, author of Power Struggle: Why Rolling Blackouts Continue
Listen below.
147 days and counting.
South Africans are tentatively getting used to the new normal of life without load shedding, following the months of rolling blackouts that had become part and parcel of our daily lives.
Last week, the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM), announced it was revising its role, saying in light of the lights staying on, its focus must now lie elsewhere.
'Elsewhere' is in reforming the current energy system, which Necom warned would come at a cost to the consumer.
Malgas says the load shedding phenomenon is not peculiar just to South Africa.
"In many African countries we have rolling blackouts on a continuous basis, and unfortunately it does continue and it will continue for many years."
Isaac Malgas, Author - "Power Struggle: Why Rolling Blackouts Continue”
"We've been very fortunate to have a bit of a reprieve from load shedding, and things are definitely improving."
Isaac Malgas, Author - “Power Struggle: Why Rolling Blackouts Continue”
Malgas, an engineer and scholar in the area of the power sector reforms in developing countries, provides a comprehensive narration of load shedding in South Africa in his book.
The book explores the causes of insufficient generation capacity on the continent.
"Energy security has always been at the top of energy policy in most countries, when it really became a big topic is after the 1973 oil crisis."
Isaac Malgas, Author - “Power Struggle: Why Rolling Blackouts Continue”
"It does give any nation a big knock when you don't have energy security, when you're not on top of your energy issues . No economy can grow without energy resources."
Isaac Malgas, Author - “Power Struggle: Why Rolling Blackouts Continue”
Malgas has worked at Eskom for more than 30 years.
"We joke that in earlier years we proudly carried our Eskom badges, these days we work for 'a large energy company'!"
Isaac Malgas, Author - “Power Struggle: Why Rolling Blackouts Continue”
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