This year, there has been a significant increase in power outages, leaving South Africans without electricity for a total of 27% of the time. This equates to around 49 full days of loadshedding, exceeding the combined duration of power outages over the past four years.
If the current trend continues, it is projected that the amount of loadshedding in 2023 will surpass the total loadshedding experienced in the past decade.
Also read: Ramokgopa affirms plans to end loadshedding but won’t provide a timeline
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Over the past 15 years, South Africa has faced significant challenges due to frequent power outages. These disruptions have had a notable adverse impact on the nation’s businesses, resulting in a weakened currency and decreased investor confidence.
Despite assurances from the Minister of Electricity, Dr Ramokgopa, to address the issue, there are currently no immediate signs of improvement.
Delays in refurbishing Koeberg’s Unit 1 have worsened the electricity crisis, and viable solutions are still elusive. Proposals include repairing deteriorating coal-fired power plants and implementing long-term strategies to bolster power generation capacity.
While some progress has been made in increasing power generation, Ramokgopa acknowledges that further efforts are necessary to eliminate power cuts entirely.
The Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill’s progress in Parliament under Minister Mantashe’s oversight has been slow. The country’s Integrated Resources Plan, meant to serve as an electricity blueprint, has been pending since 2021, and recent regulations on renewable energy have faced setbacks.
Although the establishment of the National Energy Crisis Committee, along with the appointment of the Minister of Electricity and the development of an Energy Action Plan, should ideally have led to improvements in the loadshedding situation, the reality is that loadshedding remains at an unprecedented level, with only two days this year being free from power outages.
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Also read:
Eskom issued a warning urging a 30-minute delay after loadshedding
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