Inside Eskom’s India Mission: How SA Engineers Are Learning to Fix Our Power Woes

In the sweltering heart of India’s coal-fired power plants, a quiet revolution is underway, one that could help pull South Africa out of its persistent power crisis.

While many South Africans brace for their next loadshedding schedule, a dedicated group of Eskom engineers is hard at work more than 8,000 kilometres away, in India. But they’re not just observing. They’re gaining hands-on expertise to help fix South Africa’s struggling power system.

This initiative stems from a strategic partnership between Eskom and India’s largest state-owned power utility, NTPC. Their shared mission: to solve one of Eskom’s most stubborn challenges: malfunctioning flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems at coal-fired power stations like Kusile.

Though technical in name, these FGD units are central to Eskom’s recovery efforts and crucial for keeping South Africa’s lights on.

Why Eskom Engineers Are Training in India

In May 2025, the first group of Eskom engineers began a 13-week intensive technical training programme at NTPC’s Vindhyachal Power Station and the Power Management Institute in Noida. This training is part of a broader 52-week exchange programme involving four groups of Eskom staff throughout the year.

The focus is clear: mastering the operation and maintenance of FGD systems, which reduce harmful sulphur dioxide emissions. These systems are vital for environmental compliance and for enabling Kusile and other plants to operate at full capacity. Inefficient or offline FGD units have reportedly cost South Africa over 2,000 megawatts of generation capacity.

This knowledge transfer follows an agreement signed at the Matla Urja Energy Conference in Johannesburg in November 2024, marking a new chapter in India–South Africa energy cooperation.

A Partnership with Shared Challenges and Goals

South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Professor Anil Sooklal, highlights the significance:
“India faced serious energy challenges in the past, much like we are facing now. But they’ve turned a corner.”

He emphasises that this collaboration is more than technical; it’s a strategic bridge between two developing nations navigating the complex transition from coal dependency to greener energy futures. Both countries rely heavily on coal-fired power, and many of their plants share similar designs, making this partnership especially practical.

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane echoes this optimism:
“This partnership is how we make magic happen: by blending shared experience with new innovation.”

Image 1: MSN

Training, Tools, and Technology: The Pillars of Progress

The Memorandum of Understanding with NTPC rests on three key pillars:

• Capacity Building: Providing senior Eskom engineers with immersive, on-the-job training to build critical skills.

• Access to Spare Parts: Leveraging India’s established power manufacturing ecosystem to supply South Africa directly, reducing downtime caused by long wait times for parts.

• Energy Transition Cooperation: Sharing lessons on moving toward greener energy solutions without compromising reliable base load supply.

This approach marks a shift from traditional Western partnerships to a more relatable and practical peer collaboration within the Global South.

What This Means for Load Shedding and You

Is this the silver bullet to end load shedding? Not yet. But it’s a vital step forward.

South Africa’s power crisis is the result of years of deferred maintenance, political interference, and technical challenges. Fixing it requires investment not only in infrastructure but also in skills, and that’s exactly what this partnership is fostering.

Public reaction has been cautiously optimistic. On social media, many have welcomed the move as “about time we stop reinventing the wheel” and praised Eskom for “learning from countries that have walked this path.”

Ultimately, the proof will be in the electricity supply, and with skilled engineers equipped to maintain critical systems, there is renewed hope for brighter days ahead.

Also read: From Bricks to Belonging: SA’s Human Settlements Department Embraces a Bold New Mandate

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Source: IOL

Featured Image: Engineering News