State-owned utility Eskom and South Korean State-owned company Korea Plant Service and Engineering (Kepco KPS) have formed a strategic partnership focused on non-commercial research, technical consulting and innovation, aimed at enhancing Eskom’s operational performance and supporting its long-term sustainability objectives.

Specifically, the agreement sets out a framework for collaboration between the organisations, including exploring strategic cooperation and exchange of information related to critical spares replenishment including, but not limited to, remanufacturing, reproducing, repairing or retrofitting of obsolete spares, Eskom says.

Further, the organisations will cooperate on the identification, implementation and evaluation of potential research and consulting-related technical projects, as well as projects supporting asset development plans and performance improvements of existing plant and asset management.

Additionally, the two companies will collaborate on digitalisation, such as AI, the Internet of Things and data analytics and related focus areas. The partners will also leverage digitalisation training and skills development expertise and knowledge transfer to work towards modernising and achieving an intelligent power grid.

The partnership also includes enhancing human resources development through skills transfer and training, employee exchange and training programmes, study tours, workshops and sharing of studies and reports, Eskom states.

The partnership also involves work on the energy transition, green and smart research and development, plant construction focusing on socioeconomics, water generation with interest in the circular economy and climate change risk mitigation, the utility says.

“With this MoU, the two companies plan to expand technological exchanges and contribute to improving the performance of ageing power plants in South Africa based on KPS’s world-class technological capabilities,” says Kepco KPS CEO Jungnam Lee.

“Eskom is a research-driven, people-centred and technology-focused organisation. Our collaboration with Kepco KPS across key strategic areas reinforces our continuous business improvement and long-term sustainability,” says Eskom Group CE Dan Marokane.

“We are advancing the recovery of our operations and working to strengthen long-term performance for the benefit of South Africans, businesses and the broader economy. By combining our expertise with Kepco KPS's and embracing international best practices in engineering and maintenance, we aim to accelerate innovation and build a more resilient, sustainable energy future for South Africa,” he says.