[FILE] A top expert has warned that the situation could deteriorate this week – Image: Canva
Load shedding: Eskom rolls out Stage 1 of the power cuts on FRIDAY
While no load shedding has been planned for the weekend, history has taught us all that can change at any moment
[FILE] A top expert has warned that the situation could deteriorate this week – Image: Canva
Due to an improvements in its generating units, Eskom is only implementing stage 1 of load shedding on Friday, 19 November 2021. For now, the power cuts have been scheduled only for that one day from 05:00 until 21:00.
Eskom had re-introduced stage 2 load shedding on Wednesday afternoon, but suspended it on Thursday evening 21:00. Now in what can be seen as good news, the power utility says it has successfully managed to return eight generating units to service.
“This together with loadshedding has allowed us to recover the dam levels at the pump storage stations and suspend loadshedding at 21:00 tonight. Unfortunately, diesel tank levels at three of the four OCGT power stations remain low and therefore, Stage 1 loadshedding will be implemented from 05:00 to 21:00 on Friday 19 November,” said spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha.
Eskom has reminded citizens that load shedding is implemented as a last resort to maintain the stability of the power system.
“A unit each at Camden, Komati, Majuba, Tutuka, Matla and Medupi power stations as well as two units at Matimba Power Station were returned to service. One generating unit at Duvha Power Station was taken out of service for boiler tube leak repairs. Total breakdowns currently amount to 15 605MW while planned maintenance is 3 604MW of capacity”
Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha
No load shedding expected this weekend
When Eskom CEO Andre De Ruyter briefed media on the current state of affairs at the utility, he said things looked somewhat positive for the weekend and South Africans didn’t have to worry about load shedding being enforced – but as history has taught us, that can all change any minute.
“At this point in time, the outlook for the rest of the weekend is quite stable as long as nothing else goes awry. We are dependent however on units returning, and therefore we will be giving an update at 16h00 to confirm that we are going ahead as planned,”
Eskom CEO Andre De Ruyter
In any case, the embattled parastatal has apologised for the inconvenience caused by the implementation of load shedding.
