Power utility Eskom has issued an alert of high risk of loadshedding this morning following over ten months of uninterrupted power supply. Eskom says the loadshedding comes at short notice and has labelled it a temporary setback.
IT'S TEMPORARY
Eskom CEO Dan Marokane said: "Loadshedding is largely behind us due to the structural improvements in the generation fleet. This is a potentially temporary setback. However, over the past seven days, we have experienced several breakdowns that require extended repair times." Marokane explained that due to the urgent need to replenish emergency reserves, load shedding up to stage 4 may be implemented over the weekend. "This has necessitated the use of all our emergency reserves which now need to be replenished. Consequently, we are closely monitoring the status of our current emergency reserves," added Marokane.
A THIN LINE BETWEEN SUPPLY AND DEMAND
Eskom said they've made a significant turnaround in its operations and managed to restore a bulk of its capacity, adding that the country still operates on a thin line between supply and demand. The power utility said that they've made significant progress since President Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled the Energy Action Plan in July 2022, as well as the implementation of their own Generation Recovery Plan. "This performance has also resulted in year-to-date diesel savings of R16.42 billion [year-on-year], which is about 62.9% less than the R26.09 billion spent during the same period last year, as a result of the continued execution of the Generation Operational Recovery plan. In August, Eskom shared its summer outlook for the period from 1 September 2024 to 31 March 2025, predicting a likely scenario of a load-shedding-free summer due to structural generation improvements. This outlook remains unchanged.' Eskom said in a statement. The power utility urged the public to use electricity efficiently by turning off geysers and pool pumps from 5pm to 9pm daily. "Doing so can significantly reduce demand and alleviate pressure on the power system. These small actions can make a big difference in minimising loadshedding and ensuring a more stable energy future for all."
