Energy expert Clyde Mallinson has refuted Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa's assertion that South Africa experienced a 1,000MW grid loss due to the decommissioning of the Komati Power Station, terming it "misinformation." Komati, an aged coal-fired power station, was decommissioned for repurposing to generate renewable energy as part of a global climate finance agreement. The station originally had nine generating units with a combined 1,000MW capacity.

Ramokgopa recently criticized the repurposing as an "injustice" and stated that the move resulted in losing 1,000MW while only gaining 217MW from alternative energy. However, Mallinson clarified that power stations have specific lifespans and must undergo significant overhauls around their 30-year mark. Komati's decommissioning was a planned process that occurred over time, with only one unit operational by early 2021. By the time of final decommissioning in October 2022, Komati was producing around 120MW.

Mallinson emphasized that the minister's claim of a sudden 1,000MW loss from Komati is misleading. He highlighted that decommissioning a power station involves the ongoing operation of related facilities, which drives up the cost of electricity production as output drops significantly. According to Mallinson's estimates, electricity from Komati in its final days likely cost between R6 to R8 per kWh.

Mallinson also explained that as coal-fired power stations near the end of their operational life, their output diminishes and the associated costs rise, making continued operation less economically viable. He argued that Ramokgopa's assertion lacks accuracy and should have conveyed that the 1,000MW loss occurred over a period of time.