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Eskom has announced that it will implement Stage 6 loadshedding from midday today until five o’clock in the morning on Monday ahead of the much anticipated Black Friday weekend.
The Stage 6 announcement comes shortly after Eskom implemented indefinite Stage 4 power cuts this week.
The power utility said this is due to the loss of five generating units over the past 24 hours resulting in a shortage of generation capacity, as well as the need to replenish emergency reserves.
“We will closely monitor the power system and communicate any changes to loadshedding should it be required.
“Unplanned outages are currently at 15 901 megawatts of generating capacity, while the capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 5 822 megawatts,” the statement read.
Eskom further added that its team is working tirelessly to ensure that this additional generating units are returned to service as soon as possible.
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Meanwhile, the minister in the presidency responsible for electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, joined by Eskom’s executives, will address a briefing on Friday afternoon.
Ramokgopa reportedly told eNCA that a festive season in the dark is not on the cards.
He said electricity demand will be lower in December as large factories will be closed.
He added; “In December the energy intensity units like the big factories are going to close so what that means is that demand goes down.”
ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula is the latest senior party leader to vow load-shedding will be a thing of the past by December.
“What I know from where I’m seated, from the work that’s been done by government and ministers and so on, load-shedding before the end of the year should have been something of the past. I can assure you load-shedding will be reversed and will be dealt with decisively,” Mbalula said.
According to Businesstech, the latest plant performance data compiled by independent energy analyst Pieter Jordaan showed that contrary to the political statements indicating improvements in Eskom’s generation capacity, the group’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF) has regressed from the much-celebrated 60% level reached a month ago.
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