South Africans should continue to use electricity more efficiently, public enterprises minister Malusi Gigaba said on Wednesday.

"As the economy recovers from the global economic downturn, demand for electricity has consequently increased," Gigaba said in a statement.

He said in the absence of new significant generation capacity coming on line within the next two years, meeting the increasing demand would remain a challenge.

"We remain resolute that the country should never again go through another period of rotational load-shedding, as experienced in 2008."

The prudent use of electricity by all South Africans, including households, industry, government and business, would assist in this regard, Gigaba said.

"Eskom must, in turn, continue to improve its current generation fleet's operational performance, improve its internal energy efficiency initiatives, as well as its demand side management programmes, while ensuring that the timeous delivery of the Build Programme is not compromised."

He said the department was committed to ensuring that the initiatives proposed in the Medium Term Risk Mitigation Plan were realised.

These included co-generation, energy efficiency and demand side management programmes.

"We will continue to work together with the department of energy and other relevant departments, to achieve our goals of long-term security of electricity supply for South Africa."