Loadshedding.com
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 for this summer is being scrutinized. They’re under the microscope for their maintenance schedules and potential load shedding. As demand dips in the summertime, Eskom hikes up maintenance – it makes sense on paper, but in reality, it’s a juggling act.
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, in his weekly media catch-up, was optimistic. He said Eskom’s been on the money with its diesel budget. And there’s something promising: Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF) has ticked up. However, it’s the pesky unplanned breakdowns that could stir the pot. As Ramokgopa put it, successful planned maintenance showcases their “confidence that the units are going to become more reliable”.
The Financial Angle
Let’s talk numbers for a moment. Eskom earmarked R9.7 billion for diesel from the start of the fiscal year to April’s end. The meter’s at R9.2 billion, fitting snugly within budget limits.
But not all share the enthusiasm. Lungile Mashele, a pro in energy economics, drops a reality check: summer maintenance will inevitably lead to load shedding. With winter’s chill fading, demand dips. But, industries might ramp up, complicating the equation.
Is Diesel The Achilles Heel?
For Ruse Moleshe of RUBK, the diesel spend’s been hard to stomach. She believes it’s not about staying within the budget, but the sheer volume of diesel usage that’s unsettling. She points out the knock-on effect: “It impacts the sustainability of the sector negatively.” Moleshe’s holding out hope for the reboot of some key generation units, which could ease supply concerns.
What the Future Holds
Craig Morkel of iKapa Energy, peering into his crystal ball, sees patterns. “As spring approaches, demand is expected to decrease, as in previous years.” This dip gives Eskom some breathing room for both planned and the unexpected maintenance work.
His numbers are a beacon of hope. Unplanned breakdowns have shrunk from around 18,000MW to a more manageable 14,000 MW recently. This, coupled with the headway in planned maintenance, boosts the reliability of Eskom’s generation fleet.
However, Morkel adds a caveat: “Because Eskom usually does most of its planned maintenance in the summer months, when demand is lowest, it will need to take its adequately well-performing power generation units off-line to prevent later unplanned breakdowns.”
Wrapping Up
Summer is on the horizon, and as Eskom gears up for the warmer months, it’s not just about planning maintenance but navigating the unforeseen. The nation waits with bated breath, hoping the lights stay on.
Load Shedding Reporter 
