The R2-billion that State power utility Eskom is claiming for failure to meet specifications has resulted in Optimum Coal going into business rescue, which is putting Eskom’s 2 000 MW Hendrina power station in a precarious position. Should the business rescue attempt fail, liquidation will follow, which is unlikely to leave any winners, least of all load-shedded South Africans. Optimum is contracted to supply 5.5-million tonnes of coal a year to Eskom until 2018 as part of an agreement signed in 1993, but could do so until 2023, the end of the estimated life of the station. Pragmatism should be allowed to prevail to arrive at a sustainable solution.