POWER III

closed

The Third Electricity Supply Commission (ESCOM) Power Project for South Africa will provide a loan of $14 million to the Electricity Supply Commission (ESCOM) for its power expansion program. ESCOM, an autonomous, government owned corporation, was created in 1922 and establishes, maintains, and operates undertakings for the efficient supply of electricity to government departments, the South African Railways and Harbors Administration, local authorities, companies, other persons carrying on industrial undertakings, and general consumers. In order to meet increased demands for power, ESCOM must develop its power supply. The project will accomplish this goal by expanding power facilities in the Cape Northern-Rand and Orange Free State-Eastern Transvaal interconnected system. Its components are: 1) construction of the Komati power station; 2) expansion of the Highveld power station; and 3) installation of a new 275 kv transmission network and step-down substations. These improvements will allow ESCOM to provide the capacity needed to meet increased power demands in South Africa.