Business asked to cut power use

(Fin24) - Eskom has requested that business cut its energy usage by 10% to 15%, the energy supplier said on Monday.

Speaking to reporters after meeting in Midrand with top business leaders about the energy crisis in SA, Eskom CEO Jacob Maroga said "the biggest lever we can pull is reducing demand and the discussion this morning with the key customers is how we can collaborate in reducing demand".

Maroga said "voluntary saving targets" had been discussed with the 131 executives representing 38 companies present at the meeting.

He said Eskom had been talking with business about voluntarily reductions for some time.

"In some cases we've had some support where they've voluntarily reduced where they can"

He said: "We've put to them that where it's possible they can help us in reducing voluntarily.

"The quantum we are looking at is between 10% to 15%."

Maroga said he would aspire to a 20% reduction; "but anything between 10% and 15% is something we need to aspire to in terms of reduction.

"That reduction will relieve and reduce the probability of loadshedding."

 

Read more at Fin24

Iron ore supply deficit seen in 2008: report

(Reuters) - A worldwide iron ore supply deficit of between 20 million and 25 million tonnes is likely in 2008, Credit Suisse forecast in a report on Monday, on the back of high demand from steel mills.

Iron ore miners are earmarking billions of dollars to expand mines, build new ore freighters and automate operations to dig faster and deeper to satisfy steel mills hungry for more ore.

Credit Suisse also said it expects annual term iron ore prices to rise by 55 percent versus a consensus forecast of a 35 percent hike.

Iron ore prices are set annually by the big three mining companies, Vale (VALE5.SA: Quote, Profile, Research)(RIO.N: Quote, Profile, Research), Rio Tinto Ltd./Plc. (RIO.AX: Quote, Profile, Research)(RIO.L: Quote, Profile, Research) and BHP Billiton Ltd./Plc. (BHP.AX: Quote, Profile, Research)(BLT.L: Quote, Profile, Research), after closed negotiations with big steel producers in Europe, Japan and more recently China.

Demand for iron ore has taken off in recent years, led by rising steel production in China, now the world's top importer.

"Despite the expected slowdowns in the U.S. and credit tightening in China, 2008 will look very similar to 2007," Credit Suisse said in a report.

It said 2007 was one of the tightest markets ever for iron ore, leaving some steel makers short of the raw material.

"We are estimating another deficit of about 20 million-25 million tonnes against seaborne trade of about 870 million tonnes," it said.

 

Read more at reuters