In South Africa, citizens have been struggling in the dark to cope with increased power cuts that have hit households and businesses across the country.
The rolling power cuts have been experienced for years, but this week the country’s state-owned power utility, Eskom, extended them so that some residents and businesses have gone without power for more than 9 hours a day.
A strike by Eskom workers added to the utility’s woes including breakdowns of its aging coal-fired power plants, insufficient generation capacity and corruption, according to experts.
The prolonged power cuts are hitting South Africans in the winter months of the Southern Hemisphere when many households rely on electricity for heat, light and cooking.
Small and large businesses have had to close down for prolonged periods or spend large amounts for diesel fuel to operate generators.
There has been widespread anger and frustration among business owners and customers at the power cuts, which Eskom calls load shedding
Meanwhile Experts are warning that the power blackouts are here to stay, adding it will take years to substantially increase South Africa’s capacity to generate power.
South Africa mines coal and relies heavily on coal-fired plants, which causes noticeable air pollution.The country is looking to increase power production from solar and other renewable sources.
Economists also say the power cuts are costing South Africa well over $40 million per day and deterring investment.
South Africa’s economy, Africa’s most developed, is already in recession and is suffering a 35% unemployment rate.
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