Brics Bank to lend Eskom up to $780m

The New Development Bank (NDB) plans to lend as much as $780-million to Eskom for infrastructure projects this year as the ailing power utility battles to keep power supply steady. Eskom, which on Wednesday entered a seventh day of controlled power cuts, is contending with operational and financial challenges, threatening the productivity of Africa’s most-industrialised economy. The government is considering various interventions to turn the company around, including a $4.8-billion bailout over three years and splitting the organisation into three parts to help contain costs.