The power utility, Eskom says that the stage two loadshedding which was implemented on Tuesday is due to depleted capacity caused by generator breakdowns, power station trips, the slow return to service of units, as well as higher demand for electricity as the colder weather starts to settle in.
According to Eskom’s Chief Executive Andre de Ruyter, the electricity supplier is working to ensure that load shedding is suspended as soon as it is possible to do so.
De Ruyter said, Eskom’s capacity to deliver electricity currently falls short of the country’s demands.
“We have a deficit between our demand and our available generating capacity, hence the reason for us to implement stage two load shedding.
“We are working very hard to return units to service. We are doing our level best to accelerate [suspending load shedding] but unfortunately where we are right now, we have no alternative… based on our anticipated return to service of major units which will alleviate the generation capacity constraint,” De Ruyter said.
Challenges:
- Trips at Arnot and Duvha power stations were returned to service.
- The tripping of some four units at Matla, Kusile, Matimba and Duvha power stations, which were returned to service by Monday midday.
- On Monday, at least eight units tripped at Lethabo, Tutuka, Hendrina, Ingula and Matla power stations – removing at least 3 300MW of capacity from the grid.
Meanwhile, Eskom’s situation remains the same as they are still running a very constrained system where every challenge that they experience actually results in severe constraints.
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