- South Africa’s state owned energy utility, Eskom, reports that loadshedding (blackouts) will resume with Stage 2 from 16:00 today until 05:00 on Monday.
- Thereafter, loadshedding will be suspended from 5:00 until 16:00 on Monday.
- Stage 2 loadshedding will then be implemented again from 16:00 on Monday until 05:00 on Tuesday.
- This alternating pattern of suspending loadshedding from 05:00 until 16:00 and Stage 2 loadshedding from 16:00 until 05:00 will be repeated daily until further notice.
While the available generation capacity has been sustained, the need to replenish the emergency reserves for the upcoming week necessitates an increase in the stage of loadshedding. Eskom will closely monitor the power system and communicate any changes to loadshedding should it be required.
Unplanned outages have further reduced to 13 350MW of generating capacity, while the capacity out of service for planned maintenance is at 8 476MW.
Energy availability factor (EAF) in decline
Respected energy analyst and electrical engineer, Chris Yelland, reports that after a week of loadshedding up to stage 6, the week-on-week Eskom Energy Availability Factor (EAF) for Week 6, 2024, continued its drop to 50.84%, even below the very low figures for the same period last year, and despite three 800 MW coal-fired units at Kusile power station being returned to service in November 2023.
Eskom week-on-week energy availability factor EAF for 2024. Data source: Eskom. Credit: Chris Yelland. Chris is an energy analyst, consultant, electrical engineer, public speaker, writer and MD at EE Business Intelligence (Pty) Ltd. Follow Chris on X – @chrisyelland
South Africans can expect loadshedding on a daily basis throughout 2024 according to Eskom’s own predictions.
Eskom System Operator outlook for loadshedding in South Africa for the next year. Image credit: Chris Yelland – X
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
