Having flirted with the idea of a force majeure, it seems that South African power utility firm Eskom is confident that this course of action will not have to be taken following the return of two failed generators earlier in the week.

On Tuesday, Eskom spokesperson Andrew Etzinger told Reuters that the situation was "really critical" and that a force majeure situation was on the cards should a further two generators fail during the course of the morning.

However, later that day another Eskom spokesperson, Ra'eesah Waja, was able to confirm that the two generators had been brought back to service and that a further two were due to be operating by the evening.

Ms Waja went on to note, though, that "anything could still happen" and the country's system was still in a state of flux, Mining Weekly reports.

Despite this, she was able to confirm that the risk of a force majeure, at least to the biggest energy users such as the mines, had been reduced.

The news earlier in the day had been enough to spark fears of a repeat of January's power cuts, when mining operations in South Africa - the world's largest producer of platinum - were curtailed.

Meanwhile, Eskom has asked the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) for a 60 per cent nominal price increase, which would come into effect from next month.

This left the regulatory member responsible for electricity, Thembani Bukula, "shocked", according to Engineering News Online.

The regulator has already agreed to a 14.2 per cent price rise for the start of the 2008/09 financial year.

Sources:

Eskom asks for a shocking 53% price increase, 18/03/08
http://www.miningweekly.co.za/article.php?a_id=129474

PTM lifts resources, takes second look at SA platinum, 18/03/08
http://www.miningweekly.co.za/article.php?a_id=129341

Eskom says force majeure possible, 18/03/08
http://www.miningweekly.co.za/article.php?a_id=129380

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