Eskom Extends Stage 2 Load Shedding for Entire Week

Eskom has announced that stage 2 load shedding will continue from Monday 8am until Saturday at 8am.

The power utility says continued implementation of load shedding is a result of the ongoing insufficient generation capacity and the inability to replenish emergency reserves over this weekend,

Spokesperon Sikonathi Mantshantsha says despite the implementation of Stage 2 load shedding, the events over the past two days have required extensive use of emergency generating reserves.

Mantshantsha says this hampered the recovery of the dam levels at the pumped storage power stations and depleting already low diesel levels.

“Since the power system remains volatile and unpredictable, higher stages of loadshedding may be required. On Saturday there was a major incident in Zambia affected the entire Southern African Power Pool. During this incident the imported power from Cahora Bassa reduced by 1 000MW while a Tutuka generator also tripped.”

Mantshantsha says a unit at Tutuka power station was also forced to shut down while there were further delays in returning a unit each at Lethabo and Majuba power stations.

“On Sunday a unit each at Medupi and Matla power stations tripped. The high usage of OCGTs over the past two weeks has resulted in limited diesel stock being available. Bulk diesel supply for the OCGT power stations is expected in mid-November.”

Mantshantsha says load shedding is implemented as a last resort to maintain the stability of the power system regardless of the stage of load shedding and has urged the public to reduce the usage of electricity in order to help us through the constraints.