Knowledge and technological innovation transfer for economic development – the case of Eskom

The article explores the transfer of knowledge and technological innovation by Eskom, the state owned vertically integrated South African power utility in South Africa and the rest of the continent in the period between 1997 and 2005 as forms of techno-nationalism, techno-globalisation and technopolitics, hybrids of technical systems and political practice that produce new forms of power and agency. Inherited from the technopolitics of the apartheid regime knowledge and technological innovation, the techno-nationalism of the young democracy and the techno-globalisation of financial and trade liberalisation were all useful in a new democratic regime finding its feet. It is argued that the retreat by Eskom to techno-nationalism explains some of its exnovation that is symbolised by power shortages and collapsing electricity infrastructure.