Eskom hikes load-shedding stage

3 years ago 1

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Eskom will implement stage 4 load-shedding from 09:00 until further notice, the state-owned power utility said in a brief statement on Wednesday.

It said this is due to further breakdowns and delayed returns of generating units to service.

“Eskom will publish a full statement in due course.”

In an update to its timetable yesterday, Eskom said it was implementing load-shedding due to a high number of breakdowns and the need to preserve the remaining emergency generation reserves.

It was also creating space to replenish dam levels at its pumped storage schemes, Eskom stated.

“As previously communicated, due to the depletion of the budget to acquire diesel for the open cycle gas turbines, Eskom has been forced to strictly conserve the remainder of the fuel reserves to protect against further unplanned outages,” the power utility said.

The chimney failure at Kusile, and the scheduled refuelling and refurbishment of Koeberg unit 1 starting this week also contribute to the capacity shortage.

“[These] will further reduce available generation capacity and significantly increase the occurrence of load-shedding during the next 6 –12 months,” Eskom said.