(FILES) In this file photo taken on January 31, 2023 A general view of some parts of Braamfontein, Johannesburg submerged in darkness due to load-shedding (rolling blackout). – South Africa’s economy shrank 1.3 percent in the final three months of 2022 to return below pre-pandemic levels as record power shortages hit activity, official data showed on March 7, 2023.
“After rallying in the third quarter of 2022, South African gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 1.3 percent in the fourth quarter,” the national statistics agency StatSA said, adding that “GDP fell below pre-pandemic levels” in the fourth quarter of last year. (Photo by – / AFP)
Believe it? Eskom optimistic load shedding won’t go beyond Stage 6 this winter
Despite predictions of unprecedented load shedding levels this winter, Eskom remains optimistic that power cuts will not exceed Stage 6.
(FILES) In this file photo taken on January 31, 2023 A general view of some parts of Braamfontein, Johannesburg submerged in darkness due to load-shedding (rolling blackout). – South Africa’s economy shrank 1.3 percent in the final three months of 2022 to return below pre-pandemic levels as record power shortages hit activity, official data showed on March 7, 2023.
“After rallying in the third quarter of 2022, South African gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 1.3 percent in the fourth quarter,” the national statistics agency StatSA said, adding that “GDP fell below pre-pandemic levels” in the fourth quarter of last year. (Photo by – / AFP)
Despite energy experts and analysts foretelling that load shedding will reach unprecedented levels this winter, power utility Eskom remains optimistic and said it does not expect power cuts to go beyond Stage 6 when the cold sets in.
Eskom’s Group Executive for Distribution assures the public of the power utility’s control over the national grid despite ongoing load shedding
According to SABC News, Eskom’s Group Executive for Distribution, Monde Bala, said the generation team is working to bring additional capacity online to reduce the stage of load shedding.
Bala was speaking from the sidelines of the National Demand Side Management Indaba in Johannesburg on Monday, 24 April, where roleplayers in the energy sector came together to find solutions to the ongoing energy crisis.
READ: Eskom CEO hunt: Who will take the reins of embattled power utility? Five people shortlisted
“This point in time, we do not foresee stages beyond stage 6. Again it is important to emphasise that the higher stages of load shedding means that we remain in control of the national grid and our role as the system operator is to ensure that the grid remains stable,” said Bala.
The Generation head added that load shedding is a tool to ensure the power utility manages the balance between supply and demand. Even though Stage 6 power cuts currently grip the country, things “will get better with time.”
READ: What is load curtailment? The lesser-known side of South Africa’s power crisis
On Monday, seven generating units broke down, and Eskom ramped up power cuts to Stage 6 again. The high power cut stage will be in place for parts of the day until at least Wednesday.
According to the Mail and Guardian, electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa recently told cabinet members that South Africa could face up to 152 consecutive days of Stage 8 load shedding this winter.
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