Due to the breakdown of five generating units overnight, Stage 5 loadshedding will regretfully be implemented until 05:00 on Monday.
The breakdown of five generating units overnight and this morning, with a combined capacity of 2 400MW, has necessitated the escalation of loadshedding to Stage 5 from 10:00 this morning. This loadshedding will be implemented until 05:00 on Monday. Should any further breakdowns occur, higher stages of loadshedding may be implemented at short notice.
On Sunday, through a media briefing Eskom will provide the outlook of the loadshedding stages for the week ahead as the teams are working around the clock to return units to service.
A unit each at Kusile, Arnot and Camden, as well as two units at Duvha Power Station tripped. While some generation units are anticipated to return to service, it is necessary to escalate the loadshedding to stop the use of the emergency generation reserves and begin the replenishment thereof ahead of the week. The emergency generation reserves have been depleted by extensive utilisation to limit the amount of loadshedding over the past two weeks.
Eskom apologises for the continued and unfortunate loadshedding, which is implemented as a last resort in view of the shortage of generation capacity and the need to attend to breakdowns and carry out planned maintenance to return units to service.
We currently have 7 210MW on planned maintenance, while another 16 597MW of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns.
At the power plants in Kusile, Arnot, and Camden, as well as two at Duvha, a unit tripped. Even if it is predicted that some generation units will restart, load shedding must be intensified in order to cease using the emergency generation reserves and start replenishing them in advance of the coming week.
Mantshantsha noted that in order to reduce the amount of load shedding over the past two weeks, the emergency generation reserves had to be heavily utilized.
Eskom apologizes for the ongoing and regrettable load shedding, which is used as a last choice due to a lack of generation capacity, the need to attend to failures, and the need to perform planned maintenance to get units back in operation.
“At this time, we have 7 210 MW scheduled for maintenance, and another 16 597 MW of capacity is not usable because of failures. Any such modifications will be swiftly communicated by Eskom, according to Mantshantsha.
