South African power plants face 17 mln tonne coal shortfall

A truck drives past electricity pylons at the Lethabo Power Station in the Free State Province, about 70km (43 miles) south of Johannesburg, November 27, 2011. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South African utility Eskom faces a 17 million tonne coal shortfall by 2017 at its coal-fired power plants, a cabinet minister said on Wednesday. The shortfall is anticipated in 2015 at Matla, Tutuka and Hendrina power stations and in 2016 at Kriel and Arnot Power Stations, Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown said in a written reply to questions in parliament.