Embattled power utility Eskom says it will implement stage 4 load shedding between 05:00 and 16:00 daily, followed by stage 5 load shedding from 16:00 to 05:00.
This pattern of stage 4 followed by stage 5 load shedding will repeat daily until further notice.
“Over the course of this week, 14 generators are expected to return to service, helping to ease the pressure on the power system,” Eskom said. However, it cautioned that a high degree of uncertainty exists on the grid and that these plans will only be possible if everything goes as planned.
“These changes will only be possible in their entirety if the units return to service as planned. Changes in the stages of load shedding can therefore occur at short notice due to the inherent unreliability of the coal power station fleet,” it said.
Eskom also revealed that it procured an additional 50 million litres of diesel on 6 January 2023.
“This fuel will be utilised sparingly to manage the pumped storage dam levels and to limit the amount of load shedding during the day,” it said.
“Together these emergency generators contribute 5,700MW of capacity.”
However, 1,000MW of power from until 1 of Koeberg remains offline for maintenance work, while 3000MW is also offline due to critical failures at Medupi and Kusile. These will remain offline until mid 2023and the end of 2024, respectively.
More recently, a generating unit each at Kendal, Majuba and Tutuka power station returned to service.
“The summer planned maintenance programme continues, and will taper off during the winter months, helping to make more capacity available to produce more electricity,” Eskom said.
“There are currently 12 generators out on planned maintenance, representing 5,804MW of capacity.”
Breakdowns account for 16,173MW of unavailable generating capacity.
Source: Business Tech, My Broadband, Eyewitness News, image from Twitter: @allcapetown