Page 54 - Risk Report 2024

IRMSA
54 RISK REPORT 2024/25

8.7 Energy

SA’s total energy mix comprises mainly electricity, fuel energy (coal, oil, gas), and renewal
or green energy (e.g. wind, solar, hydro).

The risk of a national electricity grid (‘grid’) failure would constitute an uncontrolled, complete de-energisation
of the grid due to all electricity generating plants being disconnected from the grid, and all electricity users
connected to the grid being interrupted simultaneously. This could be caused by extreme weather, sabotage (e.g.
intentional plant damage, cyberterrorism), transmission network failure (theft, vandalism, aging infrastructure,
network capacity constraints), and severe supply constraints due to demand shortfalls, depletion of reservice
capacity, or unplanned generation interruptions. Recovery after a grid collapse would be practically and
economically challenging and likely damage key national infrastructure. To protect the grid from failure due to
such an unforeseen sequence of events, multiple defence barriers are in place.

SANELISIWE KHOWANE JOSE CORREIA NANCY GANGARAM SIJU JOSEPH
ERM & BCM Graduate Emergency Manager Senior Risk Advisor Ancillary Services
eThekwini Municipality Eskom Eskom Manager
Eskom

MAGDALENE REDDY SANJAY BANA RAVI NAICKER TJAART VAN DEN BERG
Head Enterprise Risk & Director Partner
CRM Prac
Risk & Resilience Manager Resilience Align Risk & Forensics Lucidum
(Distribution) Eskom Eskom Services