Stage 2 load-shedding to continue throughout the week
Stage 2 will continue from Monday at 05:00 until 05:00 on Saturday.
Eskom announced in a statement that, due to the ongoing insufficient generation capacity and the inability to replenish emergency reserves over this weekend, stage 2 load-shedding will continue throughout the week, from 05:00 on Monday November 8 until 05:00 on Saturday November 13.
Despite the implementation of stage 2, the events over the past two days have required extensive use of emergency generating reserves, hampering the recovery of the dam levels at the pumped storage power stations and depleting already low diesel levels.
Since the power system remains volatile and unpredictable, higher stages of load-shedding may be required.
“There was a major incident in Zambia on November 6 that affected the entire southern African power pool. During this incident, the imported power from Cahora Bassa was reduced by 1 000MW, while a Tutuka generator also tripped.
“Furthermore, a unit at Tutuka Power Station was forced to shut down while there were further delays in returning a unit each at Lethabo and Majuba power stations.
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“On November 7, a unit each at Medupi and Matla power stations tripped. The high usage of OCGTs over the past two weeks has resulted in limited diesel stock being available. Bulk diesel supply for the OCGT power stations is expected in mid-November.”
Eskom said total breakdowns currently amount to 16 693MW, while planned maintenance is 5 769MW of capacity.
Eskom teams successfully returned two of the three generators at the Kendal Power Station following the shutdown on Friday due to coal constraints. A unit each at Lethabo and Majuba power station was returned to service after boiler tube leak repairs. A total of 12 generating units with a combined capacity of 5 271MW are expected to return to service during the week.
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“We remind customers that load-shedding is implemented as a last resort to maintain the stability of the power system, regardless of the stage of load-shedding.
“Eskom would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused by the implementation of load-shedding, and requests the public to reduce the usage of electricity in order to help us through the constraints.”
