Eskom imposes higher stages of load shedding during weekend

Eskom’s weekend load shedding schedule has changed dramatically after the parastatal announced that higher stages of the rolling blackout would be implemented from Friday.

The parastatal said stage 4 rolling power cuts was implemented at 1.11pm on Friday, due to a higher than anticipated demand experienced.

Load shedding

Menzi Mngomezulu, crisis communication manager at Eskom, said the stage 4 power cuts will continue until 5am on Saturday morning.

“Thereafter, stage 3 will be implemented from 5am until 4pm on Saturday, followed by stage 4 load shedding until 5am on Sunday.

“At 5am on Sunday, stage 2 load shedding will be implemented until 4pm. Then stage 3 load shedding will implemented from 4pm on Sunday until 4pm on Monday.

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Generation capacity

Mngomezulu said there have been a significant reduction in generation capacity.

“Breakdowns have increased to 15 388MW of generating capacity, while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance has increased to 7 169MW. Over the past 24 hours two generation units were returned to service at Lethabo and Medupi power stations.

“In the same period, a generating unit each at Hendrina, Matimba and two units at Matla power stations were taken offline for repairs. The delays in returning a unit to service at Camden, Kriel and Tutuka power stations have contributed to the capacity constraints,” Mngomezulu.

Eskom has  urged South Africans to continue using electricity sparingly and efficiently in helping to alleviate the pressure on the power system.

Rapid energy revolution

Meanwhile, Moneyweb reports that an important effect of the deliberate power cuts that no one is really talking about is the energy evolution it is causing in South Africa.

Speaking at a Nedbank ‘changing times’ webinar, political and trend analyst JP Landman said the energy system and Eskom, as the main generator of electricity, will not survive in their present format.

“Load shedding will be over by the end of next year,” he said, reiterating his forecast of August last year.

The “gatvol” (fed up) factor and the negative destructive effect of load shedding is pushing the country very fast on its energy revolution journey. SA will see investments of around R1.5 trillion in energy alone over the next five to six years, Moneyweb reported.

ALSO READ: Load shedding is driving SA’s rapid energy revolution