Johannesburg - The government on Friday asked industry for the cheapest and quickest options to ease a power crunch, as cabinet held an emergency meeting to try and resolve a crisis threatening growth in Africa's most industrialised economy.
President Cyril Ramaphosa called the meeting after struggling state utility Eskom implemented the most extensive power cuts in more than a decade earlier this week, disrupting supply to businesses and households. Eskom, which cut power for a ninth straight day on Friday, is choking under a massive R450 billion debt burden and struggles to meet demand because its creaking coal-fired power stations haven't been maintained properly.The energy ministry published a document on Friday requesting information from the power industry on options for between 2 000 MW and 3 000 MW of new capacity at least cost.