Month: August 2023

Amidst an era of energy transformation, Minister of Minerals and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, emphasizes a fresh perspective on South Africa’s energy landscape. A Push for Power Station Upgrades Mantashe is driving a narrative of fortifying operational power stations. Contrary to decommissioning them, he proposes amplifying their capacities in tandem with the construction of new ones. […]

It felt like a fleeting holiday morning when Eskom halted its load-shedding at 11:30 this Monday, 21 August 2023. But let’s dive into the details behind this short break and what comes next. Why the Sudden Break? Eskom cited two reasons: But wait, before you let out that breath, the pause is set to last […]

In a twist that had many South Africans sighing in relief, Eskom pulled the plug on load shedding – but only for a while. Here’s the lowdown: A Breather from Blackouts: Eskom announced a temporary halt to load shedding on Monday, attributing it to an “improved generation system and a full recovery in emergency generation […]

Electricity behemoth, Eskom, is on the cusp of launching a groundbreaking solution. Meet “virtual wheeling,” the game-changer poised to amplify our electricity supply and likely decrease those pesky bills. Understanding “Virtual Wheeling” Let’s break it down. Virtual wheeling is set to grant industrial and commercial bigwigs – already part of Eskom and municipal circuits – […]

Eskom’s got a plan for the weekend, and here’s the gist of it. Rolling Power Changes Ahead Power fluctuation is on the horizon, as Eskom reveals its intention to hop between stage 1 and stage 3 load shedding over the upcoming weekend. Mark your calendars, folks: Planning for the Future Though current shedding levels remain […]

There’s a new ray of hope on South Africa’s power horizon. Eskom Eyes a November Reboot for Unit 1 A breath of fresh air for those tracking the nation’s power scenario. Eskom’s much-discussed Koeberg Unit 1 has been marked for a November 2023 revival. Key to remember? When firing on all cylinders, each Koeberg unit […]

It’s not sunshine and rainbows for South Africa’s retailers as they brace themselves for what could be some of their toughest months yet. The Numbers Speak June 2023 saw retail sales volumes dip by 0.9% year-on-year, according to Stats SA. A slight sigh of relief, perhaps, since the 1.6% drop in May (originally thought to […]

The grid’s feeling the heat, and Koeberg’s Unit 1 isn’t helping much. Remember that promise of the power unit whirring back to life by mid-2023? We’re going to need a bit more patience. Longer Wait Times After taking a sabbatical since December 2022, everyone was eagerly waiting for Koeberg Nuclear Power Station’s Unit 1 to […]

As the summer sun shines bright, South Africa’s power giant, Eskom, has a tightrope to walk. Balancing increased planned maintenance without flipping the switch to more load shedding isn’t a beach vacation. The Maintenance vs Load Shedding Tug-of-War After a chat with some of the brightest minds in energy, one thing’s clear: Eskom’s game plan […]

The world of portable power stations has a clear frontrunner: the EcoFlow Delta. As a beacon of reliability during unexpected power shortages, blackouts, or even evacuations, this is a device that stands out for its unrivaled performance and safety features, particularly for households with children. When I ventured into the market, the EcoFlow Delta’s reputation […]