Proper asset management by Eskom has achieved an electricity availability factor of 65.16% this year-to-date, highlighted Eskom Rotek Industries (ERI) engineering manager Reinaldo da Veiga. He was addressing a session at the Enlit Africa 2026 Conference and Exhibition, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

"The main objective of our organisation (Eskom) is to supply electricity to South Africa," he pointed out. Proper asset management had also resulted in a 62.46% reduction in Eskom's year-on-year spending on diesel fuel, for generators. The utility, as of last Saturday (May 16), had also achieved 365 days without loadshedding.

Proper management of assets also improved Eskom's efficiency and effectiveness. It further allowed the making of better decisions.

ERI plays a key role in ensuring the utility's assets are properly managed and maintained. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eskom Holdings, through Eskom Enterprises. ERI has an annual turnover of R13-billion and employs 6 000 people, with its main complex being at Rosherville, Johannesburg.

ERI has five business units. These sre Logistics Services, Bulk Material Services, Turbo Generator Services (TGS), Transformer and Switchgear Services, and Construction Services.

Logistics Services enables all ERI's units to function effectively. It provides road haulage, lifting, clearing, forwarding, and materials handling as well as waste management, including hazardous waste. It operates the largest multi-axle fleet in the southern hemisphere.

TGS has an annual turnover of R6-billion and has 3 000 employees. It is organised into four departments -- Maintenance, Projects, Engineering Services, and Workshops. 

The Maintenance Department has teams at 14 coal-fired and one nuclear-powered power station. They maintain turbine and generator plant every day, and deal with small breakdowns and inspections.

"We have a very strong Engineering Services team," he affirmed. It provides engineering back-office support for all TGS operations. It includes works, service and commissioning engineers. It undertakes reverse engineering (most Eskom plant is past its out-of-service dates), new designs and developments, deals with 'out-of-normal' conditions, maintenance technology research and investigations, and product specific technology improvements.

ERI's main workshop complex is at Rosherville, established in 1930. It now has 58 000 m² under roof, a crane capacity of up to 325 t, and a comprehensive range of machining equipment, enabled by the turbine refurbishment skills and expertise of the staff. 

"We can do 300 t balancing of rotating equipment," pointed out Da Veiga. This again is the biggest such capability in the southern hemisphere. 

The company also has workshops at Matla. These are equipped with CNC machines and can produce smaller components. 

Transformer and Switchgear Services supports the transmission and distribution networks.