Eskom implements stage 4 loadshedding due to maintenance

A dark day is ahead for South Africans as power utility Eskom announced that Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented from 9am today until further notice.

Also read: High fuel prices and unpaid bills add to woes for Eskom

Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said that this is due to further breakdowns and delayed returns of generating units to service.

“Due to further breakdowns and delayed returns of generating units to service, Stage 4 load shedding will be implemented from 9am until further notice. Eskom will publish a full statement in due course,” Mantshantsha said.

This comes less than 24 hours after Eskom implemented stage 3 loadshedding from 4pm on Tuesday until 5am this morning.

“Stage 2 load shedding will continue being implemented at 5am until 4pm daily until further notice. Eskom will publish a further update as soon as there are any significant changes,” he said on Tuesday.

According to the power utility, a generating unit each at Camden and Kendal power stations had been taken off-line for repairs over the past 24 hours.

“The delay in returning to service a generating unit each at Arnot, Kriel and Matla power stations has contributed to the capacity constraints,” Mantshantsha said.

Three generation units were forced off-line at the Kusile power station as refuelling and maintenance outages started this week. 

This issue was further compounded by the long-term operation project of Unit 1 of the Koeberg nuclear power station, following October’s chimney failure, which further reduced the available generation capacity, increasing the frequency of loadshedding for the next six to 12 months.

Last month, Eskom management reiterated their stance that extending the lifespan of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station is the best investment the country can make to ensure the provision of adequate electricity generation capacity in their address at a joint meeting of Parliament’s public enterprises, mineral resources and energy portfolio committees.

“We have been engaged during previous outages on plugging of those cracks,” said Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter, confirming that the power utility was in consultation over the generators with the National Nuclear Regulator, which oversees the safety aspects of the plant.

Also read:

Koeberg remains SA’s best electricity option – Eskom

Picture: Cape{town}Etc/ Murray Swart

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