As we gear up for another power-restricted week, Eskom lays out its schedule and there’s news from the corridors of power regarding the nation’s energy crisis.
Shedding Schedule
For those hoping for relief, brace yourselves. Eskom has stated that full-day load shedding is in the forecast for the entire week.
- Monday, 14 August
- Stage 1: Up to 16h00
- Stage 3: 16h00 – 00h00
- Tuesday, 15 August
- Stage 3: 00h00 – 05h00
- Stage 1: 05h00 – 16h00
- Stage 3: 16h00 – 00h00
- Wednesday, 16 August
- Similar to Tuesday’s pattern
The drill is pretty straightforward. We’ll experience stage 1 load shedding from 05h00 to 16h00, with stage 3 kicking in from 16h00 and running through to 05h00. This cycle will persist for an indefinite period.
Behind the Power Curtailment
As of now, breakdowns account for a whopping 16,054MW in lost generating capacity, with an additional 3,921MW taken offline for scheduled maintenance. But it’s not all doom and gloom. Over the last day, Eskom managed to bring back units at the Camden, Duvha, Kriel, and Lethabo stations. Conversely, a unit at Tutuka and two at Kendal went offline.
Certain delays in reactivating units, notably at the Kendal, Matimba, and Tutuka stations, are further straining the system.
Minister’s Two Cents
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa weighed in, emphasizing that while the colder winter months recede and the nation warms up, Eskom is ramping up its maintenance schedule, hinting at potential further grid constraints. Yet, he was optimistic about the steady improvement in generating capacity, stating that Eskom is hovering around 29,000MW daily.
However, challenges persist. Eskom’s ambition to keep unplanned outages below 15,000MW hasn’t been consistently achieved. The minister pointed out, “An area that continues to be at albatross is on the partial load losses… currently sitting at 6,226 MW.”
A Glimpse Into the Future
While all this ensues, the energy regulator Nersa isn’t idle. They’re restructuring the nation’s load shedding stages, paving the way for up to 16 stages of load shedding. Adjustments galore in the energy realm!