First load shedding of '22 could last throughout weekend
Power utility Eskom has announced that stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from 11am on Wednesday.
At this stage, it is set to last throughout the weekend until 5 o'clock Monday morning.
Eskom spokesperson Sikhonathi Mantshantsha says the rolling blackouts come after further breakdowns at its power stations.
"A unit each at Kusile and Kendal power stations tripped. Delays in returning units at Kusile, Tutuka, Duvha, Lethabo and Grootvlei have also contributed to the current supply constraints.
"Total breakdowns amount to 14 994MW while planned maintenance is 4 435MW of capacity as we continue with the reliability maintenance. Three generating units are expected to return to service by this afternoon."
Mantshantsha adds that Eskom has utilised "significant" amounts of emergency generating reserves since the weekend which have been depleted and need to be replenished.
"Eskom will use this period of load shedding to replenish the emergency generation reserves."
