Another round of load shedding to be implemented on Thursday

The power utility said it will implement rolling blackouts from 10pm to 5am on Wednesday and Thursday.

“The load shedding is necessary in order to recover and preserve the emergency generation reserves that have been utilised to support the system during the week, following the earlier than planned shutdown of Koeberg Unit 1 and other units whose return to service has been delayed,” says spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha.

“We currently have 6 672MW on planned maintenance, while another 12 073MW of capacity is unavailable due to unplanned maintenance. Eskom teams are working around the clock to return as many of these units to service as soon as possible.”

Mantshantsha says the system is extremely vulnerable.

“At the moment the equivalent of two large power stations is out for planned maintenance, adding pressure to the system."

ALSO READ: SA to receive 1 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine this month