Eskom, South Africa’s embattled power utility, has announced an increase in load-shedding levels for the weekend due to more breakdowns. Starting from 4 pm on Friday, Stage 3 load shedding will be implemented, and it will continue until 4 pm on Saturday. After that, Stage 4 load shedding will be initiated.
The country will alternate between these two stages until Sunday when Eskom will provide further updates for the following week. The decision to escalate load shedding was made as a result of setbacks that led to the shutdown of six generating units.
Additionally, the delay in returning three generating units to service also contributed to the increased load shedding. Currently, breakdowns account for 15,561 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity, while planned maintenance has taken 7,828 MW out of service.
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Eskom has assured that its power station general managers and their teams are working tirelessly to bring back 1,960 MW of generating capacity by Monday evening. The power utility’s load forecast for the evening peak demand on Friday is 25,169 MW.
Eskom expressed its gratitude towards households that are using electricity sparingly and efficiently. By switching off geysers and pool pumps between 5pm and 9pm, these households are lowering the demand and alleviating pressure on the power system, which ultimately contributes to lower stages of load shedding.
In other news, Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between him and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan.
This agreement is seen as a significant step towards implementing the country’s energy action plan. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently approved the memorandum, which clarifies the respective responsibilities of the two ministers about Eskom and the resolution of the electricity crisis.
As part of the agreement, Minister Ramokgopa will focus full-time on all aspects of the electricity crisis and the work of the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECC). He will also exercise authority over the Eskom board and management to bring an end to load shedding and ensure the implementation of the energy action plan.
Eskom will closely monitor the power system and communicate any changes if necessary.
The power utility acknowledges the inconvenience caused by load shedding and appreciates the public’s cooperation in using electricity efficiently. By working together, South Africa can navigate through this challenging period and move towards a more stable and reliable power supply.
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