South Africa: Treasury confirms Eskom privatisation talks

With the government running out of options to make up the funding deficit at Eskom, the National Treasury has confirmed that it is considering the part privatisation of the utility and a sale of assets. In a statement to Reuters and South Africa’s Engineering News Online, the Treasury said that it would “explore all options so that South Africa can have a financially sustainable Eskom in the long term and resolve its energy challenges”. The statement said that private investment was being considered as well as “ring-fencing and selling stakes in Eskom’s non-core businesses or power stations, as well as into Eskom’s business as a whole”.