Eskom cut its diesel usage by more than 422 million litres in 2025/26

[mylesillidge]

Eskom saved enough diesel in a year to fill more than 5 million Toyota Hilux bakkies

Eskom reduced the diesel it burnt in its open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) by more than 422 million litres in the 2025/26 financial year, which is enough to fill the tanks of 5,281,722 Toyota Hiluxes.

Responding to Parliamentary questions from MK MP Moses Mbatha, electricity and energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said several factors drove Eskom's OCGT generation during the year.

 

[HAL 9000]

It's because they've switched over to petrol generators instead of using diesel ones...

 

[Newusername]

Eskom cut its diesel usage by more than 422 million litres in 2025/26​

should read...

Solar users cut Eskom diesel usage by more than 422 million litres in 2025/26

 

[oros]

Although wishful thinking, but they could have passed the savings to the consumer..... Instead of their account pockets, the greedy bliks#ms......

 

[dillinger]

And how much did their income fall with?

 

[wingnut771]

And how much did their income fall with?

With what?

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

and were supposed to do what exactly? electricity prices are as high as ever.

 

[Johnatan56]

And how much did their income fall with?

You mean the corrupt ones or Eskom? This is probably among the most expensive source of power for them, running at a loss.

2024/25: R344bn with R16bn profit
2025/26: R356bn with R18bn profit, ebidta down though (expected as debt was used to cover diesel).

Not using them is a good thing, why they're not using them is not that great for Eskom though (economy not really growing, customers putting alternatives in place).

 

[wingnut771]

We are doing Eskom a favour with industry shutting down:

 

[Bosvark@]

Eskom cut its diesel usage by more than 422 million litres in 2025/26​

should read...

Solar users cut Eskom diesel usage by more than 422 million litres in 2025/26

Absolutely!

 

[Sargeant]

What utter rubbish! Eskom is only using diesel because they didn't do their jobs in the first place - they haven't saved anything, they've merely squandered less.

 

[denmendez65]

What utter rubbish! Eskom is only using diesel because they didn't do their jobs in the first place - they haven't saved anything, they've merely squandered less.

Eskom is like that employee that was assigned an easy project with all the information and help available, f@ckd it up, cost the business owner (the country) trillions, asked for extra money and time, got the project to work 65% of the time while missing every other deadline they promised and somewhat stopped burning money.

Fast forward later in time, the same employee is running around the company claiming they did a good job and running to their boss asking for increases and praise.

 

[qscwbt]

Any positive news from eskom is just lies

 

[handyman007]

I'm not inclined to believe Eskom's accountants...

 

[system32]

Why Eskom still using costly Diesel OCGT?
Eskom got environmental approval to change to the much more efficient gas CCGT in Oct 2008.

ANKERLIG POWER STATION CONVERSION AND INTEGRATION PROJECT, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE
See https://www.eskom.co.za/eia/gx/wp-c...-Draft-EIR/Ankerlig_EIA_-_App_P_Draft_EMP.pdf

Conversion from OCGT to CCGT effectively increases the plant's thermal efficiency from about 34% to over 50-55%, enabling Eskom to generate significantly more power without using additional fuel.

 

[Gordon_R]

Why Eskom still using costly Diesel OCGT?
Eskom got environmental approval to change to the much more efficient gas CCGT in Oct 2008.

ANKERLIG POWER STATION CONVERSION AND INTEGRATION PROJECT, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE
See https://www.eskom.co.za/eia/gx/wp-c...-Draft-EIR/Ankerlig_EIA_-_App_P_Draft_EMP.pdf

Conversion from OCGT to CCGT effectively increases the plant's thermal efficiency from about 34% to over 50-55%, enabling Eskom to generate significantly more power without using additional fuel.

A CCGT powered by diesel will not suddenly become efficient compared to other sources of power. You can't turn a turkey into an eagle, by spending millions of capital on a rarely used facility...

 

[wingnut771]

Why Eskom still using costly Diesel OCGT?
Eskom got environmental approval to change to the much more efficient gas CCGT in Oct 2008.

ANKERLIG POWER STATION CONVERSION AND INTEGRATION PROJECT, WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE
See https://www.eskom.co.za/eia/gx/wp-c...-Draft-EIR/Ankerlig_EIA_-_App_P_Draft_EMP.pdf

Conversion from OCGT to CCGT effectively increases the plant's thermal efficiency from about 34% to over 50-55%, enabling Eskom to generate significantly more power without using additional fuel.

Too much whiskey hand washing I guess.

 

[wingnut771]

A CCGT powered by diesel will not suddenly become efficient compared to other sources of power. You can't turn a turkey into an eagle, by spending millions of capital on a rarely used facility...

Wasn't it supposed to run on gas instead of diesel? Anyway CCGT are better suited to base load than peaker afaik.

 

[system32]

A CCGT powered by diesel will not suddenly become efficient compared to other sources of power. You can't turn a turkey into an eagle, by spending millions of capital on a rarely used facility...

Are you saying Eskom just did the EIA assessment for fun?

 

[Gordon_R]

Are you saying Eskom just did the EIA assessment for fun?

Good question. If I was being cynical, EIAs offer more scope for 'tenderitis'. BTW, I dont see gas supply as being feasible anytime soon.