On 1 March 2023, Eskom commemorated 100 years since its inception. This was a significant milestone, indicating 10 decades of Eskom being in the business of generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity to South Africa and the SADC region.

Eskom has been powering our nation since 1923 when the Electricity Supply Commission was established, and today, it still supplies more than 80% of electricity generated in South Africa. 

Eskom powers the grid with various types of power stations, from coal-fired to hydroelectric, nuclear, pumped-storage, wind, and diesel. Our first Eskom-designed station was the Sabie River Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station completed in 1927. The newest power station is Medupi Power Station, which was commissioned in 2021.

The past 100 years have included highlights such as around 90% of South African homes being electrified, as opposed to an average of 17% in the rest of Africa. Eskom also stood proud as Global Power Company of the Year in 2001. There have been many challenges since 2007; but the problems have been identified, and a clear plan and vision have been crafted going forward.

Eskom is moving away from being the sole supplier of electricity to being an enabler of electricity generation for South Africa. Eskom is also moving towards being a cleaner and more sustainable company. The aim is to achieve zero emissions by 2050, with an increase in sustainable jobs. This will be attained by repowering and repurposing older coal-fired power stations, strengthening renewable energy generation at our sites, and opening up opportunities for independent power producers to build their plants on Eskom land.

Power grid strengthening in the Northern and Eastern Cape will also be a key enabler for the integration of new, clean energy sources in these areas. Customers could, in the new Eskom era, become prosumers by exporting surplus energy onto the grid – a first for South Africa.

The current focus is on turning performance around and improving our financial position. The power system will also be modernised by leveraging technology to enhance decision-making and operations to benefit Eskom and all its customers. 

As Eskom commemorates its centenary year, it intends to remain a critical player in the electricity industry and contribute to economic growth, job creation, and socio-economic development.

Here’s to another 100 years!