Eskom has announced that it is implementing Stage 2 load shedding from 12:00 today (Thursday) until Sunday at 23:00.
This is due to a loss of generation capacity overnight. The utility said load shedding is also necessary to manage the use of emergency reserves, “which will help us contain the stage of load shedding required.”
Two generation units at Kusile Power Station tripped “due to the failure of the main coal feed conveyor belts supplying coal to the units”. Kriel and Duvha power stations also each had a unit trip due to unforeseen breakdowns. Eskom said it has four generation units whose return to service from planned maintenance has been delayed.
The power utility’s supply is tight, with 5 358MW on planned maintenance, and another 14 748 MW unavailable due to unplanned maintenance, breakdowns and outage delays.
It added that the system remains vulnerable and unpredictable, and further breakdowns may see the load shedding stage change at short notice.
Eskom has implemented stage 2 load shedding twice in the past month to “preserve its emergency generation reserves”.
Unit one of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station was taken offline earlier this month for maintenance, ahead of schedule, after “an increasing leak rate was observed on one of three steam generators” and is only expected to return to service during May 2021
Read:
As Eskom takes Koeberg 1 offline, can it keep the lights on?
Eskom unprepared as generator leak accelerates nuclear shutdown
Koeberg supplies stable and predictable baseload power generation of just more than 1 800 megawatts (MW), which has now halved. This must add to the generation capacity challenge.
Developing story
COMMENTS 19
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Heish!!!
There is just no light at the end of the tunnel.
Vote 43
Viva — Braai times — Amandla !!!
Vote 27
Viva, Cape Town! We’re on Stage 1.
Vote 12
Viva, generator, stage 0 😉
Vote 17
Stop bragging….its just a matter of time before the ANC will also rule the Western Cape.
Vote 6
Why is that? It is not as if Cape Town generates any energy.
Vote
This is a legacy of ANC corruption and mismanagement.
Vote 44
The problem is that the ANC doesnt see it as a problem.
They turn a blind eye to it.
Vote 19
Geez, please..stop trying to paint is a political issue..
This is what is/was so difficult for lot of descendants of colonialists to get to grips with, SA needs to meet African standards.
continued amazement about this process of reverting to mean is plain brain-dead boring..
Vote 18
True. In any other country they would have been voted or anialated a long time ago.
Vote 4
Well for the ANC elites it isn’t a problem it is an opportunity – more ANC BEE tenders to “fix” stuff at exorbitant cost; Gupta style – do not think this has stopped. As for having no power – the taxpayer gladly provides generators etc for all the ANC apparatchiks in “government” aka a self enrichment scheme.
Vote 4
This is a political issue
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To think our economy had a growth rate of 5% from 2005 to 2007. The current grid can’t even handle a stinking economy in 2021.
Vote 33
Ahh at long last we have government and Eskom in the same sinking ship – both due to gross incompetence of management. Which other SoE is ready for the junk yard
Vote 30
The tunnel is a torus, starts at Eskom and ends at Eskom
Vote 13
From the article, around 20GW is offline due to maintenance. Only 5GW (25%) is due to planned maintenance and the rest is planned. But even some if their ‘planned maintenance’ will be because of urgent issues that need attention. We all know there are problems at Escom, but it does not sound good when the maintenance guys spend so little of their time on prevention and the rest on unplanned work. You can maintain your bicycle like that, but not an asset of national importance.
Vote 22
‘Due to a loss of generation capacity’ – whahahaa
Vote 11
the “lights outs” start always.. when our brothers & sisters start singing in front of Judge Z… & the narrative then …ALL of us can guess it perfectly correct = ESKOM…. in the subject line…. do the maths – ESKOM switch ON & OFF.. so that the TV screens goes down!!
Vote 7
One (minor) positive thing of load-shedding, must be the extra exercise…for what its worth….by pulling the generator starter cord.
(But the extra exercise must be worth 1 Joule, since I have a Honda EU3000is, you only need to pull it ONCE). And you can have a conversation standing next to it.
I’m not a car snob. I’m a generator snob *lol*
Vote 2
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