Eskom: System fragile but no blackouts over Easter weekend

The struggling power utility will keep stage 2 load shedding in place until the Friday morning. 

The utility says a unit each at the Kusile and Kendal power stations tripped overnight.

This while another unit at Kusile has returned to service in the morning together with one of the previously delayed Camden power station units.

Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha warns there is a possibility of load shedding rearing its head again next week as the system remains fragile.

"Eskom will undertake opportunity maintenance during the low demand weekend to address some risk on running units.

"During the weekend Eskom will release some water into the river system from the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme in order to relieve the capacity constraints that have been created by the heavy rains.

"This will be done in a responsible manner in collaboration with the authorities," says Mantshantsha.

The utility is  currently running at  6 042MW on planned maintenance, while another 14 471MW of capacity is unavailable due to unplanned breakdowns.

He warns that any deterioration in generation capacity may require further power cuts.

"We therefore request the public to continue using electricity sparingly, particularly

over the long weekend to assist to replenish the emergency generation reserves in anticipation of the  coming week."

ALSO READ