Solar plants are generating power that's 'thrown away'. Eskom wants it, insists Ramokgopa

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has insisted government will find a use for excess electricity generated by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) that is currently "thrown away". 

Speaking at a briefing about the Energy Action Plan this week, Ramokgopa said government was aware of several solar and battery plants that have generated an additional 17MW to 60MW of electricity which Eskom wasn't allowed to buy due to contract limits. 

According to the public procurement process, Eskom cannot exceed the contractual amount of power it is supposed to buy from a producer - even if that producer has more power available.