Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from Wednesday 10 March 2021 according to Eskom. Image: Adobe Stock
BREAKING: Eskom escalates load shedding to STAGE FOUR
Eskom says the move to stage 4 load shedding is due to the fact that several units at its power stations tripped overnight
Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from Wednesday 10 March 2021 according to Eskom. Image: Adobe Stock
Brace yourselves! The current power crisis just got a bit worse as Eskom announced it will be ramping up load shedding to Stage 4 on Wednesday morning, 9 March 2022 at 09:00. This will continue at least until Friday at 05:00, after which the load shedding will be reduced to Stage two.
“It is with a great deal of disappointment that Eskom has to inform the public that further failures overnight of generation units has necessitated the implementation of Stage 4 loadshedding starting at 09:00 this morning. Unfortunately, this has to continue until 05:00 on Friday. Thereafter loadshedding will be lowered to Stage 2 until 05:00 on Monday morning,” Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said in a statement on Wednesday morning.
The utility implemented a fresh bout of power cuts on Monday for the first time this month, citing multiple generating unit failures.
YOU CAN ALSO READ: Stage 2 load shedding EXTENDED until Saturday!
ESKOM TO GIVE CLARITY ON STAGE FOUR LOAD SHEDDING
Eskom is expected to shed some light on the decision to escalate load shedding to stage 4 when it holds a media briefing at exactly 10:00, an hour after the ramped up power cuts kick in.
As to why the move to Stage four? The embattled power utility says units at its Kendal, Duvha, Camden and Kusile power stations tripped. Since then, however, they have managed to return about four units to service.
“However, these units still need to ramp up to full output, which necessitates a high usage of emergency generation reserves today. This being the fourth day of extremely high diesel usage, the emergency reserves are being depleted faster than can be replenished. Stage 4 loadshedding will therefore give us the space required to replenish the emergency reserves and continue to manage the system safely”
Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha
Eskom says the total breakdowns amount to 15 439MW while planned maintenance is 5 505MW of capacity. The parastatal has further urged customers to switch off all non-essential items and help limit the impact of load shedding.
“Eskom would like to apologise for the implementation of loadshedding, and will continuously review the situation and act appropriately as circumstances change,” Mantshantsha also said.
