Eskom Loadshedding Update
- Loadshedding continues to be implemented at Stage 5 until 05:00 on Saturday morning.
- Thereafter it will be lowered to Stage 4 until 05:00 on Sunday. A further reduction to Stage 3 will be implemented until 05:00 on Monday.
- The capacity constraints will persist throughout next week, and current indications are that loadshedding will be implemented at Stage 3 for most of the week.
- A further update will be published on Sunday afternoon, or as soon as there are any significant changes.
The loadshedding over the weekend will be used to replenish the pumped storage dam levels, which have been utilised extensively over the past week.
Eskom is currently experiencing constraints from its diesel suppliers that is affecting the availability of bulk diesel to the Ankerlig and Gourikwa Open Cycle Gas Turbines, which have a combined capacity of 2 000MW. Should this uncertainty of diesel supplies persist, higher stages of loadshedding may be required.
Since Thursday a generation unit each at Camden, Kriel, Majuba and Matla power stations were taken offline for repairs. A generating unit at Hendrina and two at Kusile power stations were returned to service.
Eskom currently has 5 839MW on planned maintenance, while another 15 745MW of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
