MEDIA STATEMENT
By Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Alexandra Abrahams
TO ALL MEDIA AND NEWS EDITORS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, 21 September 2026
Deputy Minister Abrahams engages Ankerlig Power Station management for operational update
The Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Alexandra Abrahams, last week conducted an oversight visit to Eskom’s Ankerlig Power Station in Atlantis, Western Cape. The visit focused on reviewing operational performance, safety standards, and strategic planning for the site’s upcoming transition from diesel to natural gas by 2030.
Ankerlig currently operates as an Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) facility with a nominal generation capacity of 1,327 MW across nine operational units.
Plant performance metrics revealed consistently strong operational readiness. The station recorded an Energy Availability Factor (EAF) of 87.16% in 2025 and reached 93.21% in 2026. Operational safety remains a priority, with Ankerlig maintaining 13 consecutive years without a Lost Time Injury (LTI) for Eskom employees and 17 years for contractors. The facility has also maintained international NOSCAR safety status for 15 years.
Highlighting the facility’s contribution to national energy security, Deputy Minister Abrahams noted:
“Peaking power stations like Ankerlig perform a vital function in our broader energy ecosystem. Beyond simple generation, their rapid agility provides the essential grid stability and emergency reserve required to balance supply during demand spikes and keep the lights on for South Africa.”
The central strategic objective for the station is its scheduled conversion to natural gas by 2030. At present, diesel operations consume 45,000 litres per hour per 148 MW unit. To meet this operational demand, 17 million litres of diesel are stored on site and can run the station at maximum capacity for 36 hours. A further 50 million litres are stored in off-site depots and are trucked in as needed. The station requires roughly 100 truck deliveries daily during periods of maximum utilisation.
During discussions, Deputy Minister Abrahams queried recent media reporting relating to payments made during a looming loadshedding crisis in 2025 for diesel that had allegedly not been received by Eskom’s Ankerlig operation. Eskom management confirmed that, according to its own stock control system and that of its suppliers, and an independent audit, there is currently no diesel that has been paid for outstanding.
The Deputy Minister will continue to exercise oversight over the matter and engage Eskom as necessary to ensure that the appropriate processes have been followed and that any concerns relating to the management of public resources are properly addressed.
Ankerlig has already been equipped with dual-fuel burning technology that can be powered by both gas and diesel. The next phase of the transition to gas will include the installation of balance-of-plant infrastructure to optimise gas delivery to the generation machinery, while contracts must still be negotiated with potential gas suppliers. The switch to gas will reduce fuel costs at the plant by up to 40%.
Addressing the long-term economic and environmental benefits of the transition, Deputy Minister Abrahams stated:
“Replacing high-cost diesel with gas will significantly reduce operational fuel expenditure while lowering carbon emissions, ensuring a more affordable, sustainable, and reliable electricity supply. We are committed to ensuring that South Africa’s energy transition balances environmental responsibilities with grid stability and cost-effective supply, so that we can deliver cheaper electricity to households and businesses.”
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Alexandra Abrahams
Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy
DMAbrahams@dee.gov.za
083 261 8788
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICITY AND ENERGY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA