Loadshedding.com
Highlight of the Day:
Eskom is shining brighter these days, and load shedding’s dark days might just be behind us.
Taking the National Assembly by Storm
Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, took to the floor on October 24th with news we’ve all been waiting to hear.
From Dim to Dazzling
Introduced in July last year by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Energy Action Plan (EAP) aimed to battle the energy beast – load shedding.
“Generation performance continues to improve from the May 2023 days of 27410MW [generation] to 28 883MW in October month to date…”
Ramokgopa noted with enthusiasm. Not just that, we’ve even broken the 30,000MW barrier, thanks in part to Kusile’s units 3 and 1 hopping back into action.
Maintenance Makes Perfect
There’s been a noticeable uptick in planned outages, or what I like to call, “power pit stops”. It’s all about upping the fleet’s performance, reliability, and matching demand with supply.
Since May, unscheduled dark hours, due to breakdowns, are on the decline. Why? Ramokgopa credits it to better maintenance and hardier unit reliability.
Kusile Power Station: The Lighthouse
The Kusile Power Station saga felt like an energy soap opera. Units went dark after a duct malfunction last October. But, the script has changed.
“We have always been firm that Kusile Power Station would anchor the drive for generation capacity to get ahead of the demand curve.”
Our Minister said. With the comeback of two units, they’ve added a whopping 1600 MW. And with Units 2 and 5’s return, expect another 1600 MW on the grid.
What about Kusile’s Unit 6? Mark your calendars for August 2024!
The Future’s Bright
No sugarcoating here – load shedding’s been a heavy cross for South Africans to bear.
Yet, Ramokgopa’s confidence shines through:
“The national energy crisis continues to be the single biggest existential challenge in post-apartheid South Africa…”
He acknowledged, but he’s also proud of the efforts to lighten that load. He recalls his previous address in May 2023, sharing plans to diminish load shedding.
“Working with the dedicated staff at Eskom and industry experts, we have successfully navigated through the winter season and are beginning to turn the tide,”
He reflected.
It’s a mix of hard work, dedication, and smart strategies. With Eskom’s improving stats, we’re not just hoping for brighter days ahead; we’re expecting them.
Source: SAnews.gov.za
Load Shedding Reporter 
