Eskom downgrade load-shedding to Stage 5

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Eskom has announced that it will implement Stage 5 load-shedding from midday on Sunday until further notice.

This follows a late-night alert for Stage 6 on Friday stating that, in spite of returning two generating units to service over the last 24 hours, two generating units were also taken offline.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the power utility said over the past 48 hours it has successfully replenished its pumped storage dam levels and bringing back some generation units back to service.

“This enabled the reduction of load-shedding to Stage 5 from 12:00 midday until further notice. Unplanned outages are at 17 595MW of generating capacity, while the capacity out of service for planned maintenance is at 6 885MW.

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Stage 5 loadshedding will be implemented from 12:00 midday until further notice pic.twitter.com/vPSMJP4Yu1

— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) February 11, 2024

“Eskom power station general managers and their teams continue to work diligently to ensure that a total of 3 200MW is returned to service by Wednesday evening,” the statement read.

Minister of electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reportedly told MyBroadband that Stage 6 load-shedding is a result of “calculated risks” undertaken by Eskom and his department.

He explained that Eskom is prioritising planned maintenance to deliver long-term improvements to the grid, but this runs the risk of clusters of units failing in short order.

End of load-shedding within reach

“We accepted that to be an inherent risk in our strategy, but following the fiscal support we have received from the National Treasury, it is our duty to balance short-term and long-term gains,” said Ramokgopa.

Delivering his State of the Nation Address on Thursday evening, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the end of load shedding is ‘finally within reach’ and the government has a clear plan which is being implemented with “single-minded focus through the National Energy Crisis Committee”.

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“We have delivered on our commitments to bring substantial new power through private investment on to the grid, which is already helping to reduce load shedding.

“Last year, we implemented a major debt relief package which will enable Eskom to make investments in maintenance and transmission infrastructure and ensure its sustainability going forward.

“Since we revived our renewable energy programme five years ago, we have connected more than 2500 MW of solar and wind power to the grid with three times this amount already in procurement or construction,” he said.