SA’s Ingula seen fully operational in 2017

Another unit at the new Ingula hydro plant has been linked to South Africa’s national energy grid.

Cape Town - Another unit at South Africa's new Ingula hydro plant generating 333 megawatts (MW) was linked to the national grid on Sunday and full operation of the 1 332 MW station is expected in January 2017, a cabinet minister said on Thursday.

Read: No winter power cuts, vows Eskom

Africa's most industrialised country is building new power plants to stave off energy shortages affecting economic growth.

State-owned utility Eskom has said it will increase its capital expenditure by 44 percent to R324 billion ($21 billion) over the next five years to build new power stations.

REUTERS