Embattled power utility Eskom says it will be implementing various stages of load shedding throughout the weekend following the near depletion of its emergency generation reserves.
The utility said persistent high levels of generating unit breakdowns and nearly depleted emergency generation reserves have led to continued capacity shortages. For that reason, various stages of load shedding will be enforced until the weekend.
That is despite Eskom teams returning generating units to service at the Duvha, Kendal and Medupi power stations since Tuesday morning.
By Thursday morning, Eskom said it had at least 16 585MW of capacity offline due to breakdowns with a further 5 683MW offline due to maintenance.
Therefore, Eskom will continue its current rotation of stage 3 and stage 4 load shedding before reducing load shedding to stage 2 on Friday morning.
“Stage 3 load shedding is currently underway until 4pm on Thursday. Thereafter, it will increase to stage 4 until 5am on Friday morning. Load shedding will be lowered to stage 2 at 5am to 4pm on Friday. It is anticipated stage 2 and 1 load shedding will be implemented during the weekend.
“Load shedding is only implemented as last resort in view of the shortage of generation capacity and the need to attend to breakdowns,” an Eskom statement read.
The utility said despite bringing back come generation units online, it is still facing generation capacity challenges making it necessary to continue with power cuts.
“The emergency generation reserves are almost depleted, both the diesel and the pumped storage dam levels. These, together with persistent high levels of breakdowns of generating units, are among the major contributors to the continuing generation capacity shortages.
“Eskom will publish a further update as soon as any significant changes occur. Load shedding is implemented only as a last resort in view of the shortage of generation capacity and the need to attend to breakdowns,” said Eskom.
Source: The Citizen, Times Live, Eyewitness News, My Broadband, SA News, image from Twitter: @Eskom_SA