Loadshedding to dump the rest of the week in the dark

The power utility says apart from the battle against broken down power units, it also needs to urgently replenish emergency reserves.

Megawatt Park forecast that it would have to implement various stages of loadshedding through the afternoon peaks this winter – in order to protect the grid against the surge in demand.

However, implementing loadshedding continuously during the day has become necessary to replenish the emergency reserves

“Due to further breakdowns of generating units at Majuba and Arnot Power Stations today, as well delays in returning units to service at Arnot and Tutuka Power Stations, Eskom regrets to inform the public that Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented starting at 10:00 on Wednesday until 22:00 on Friday.

The emergency generation reserves have been used extensively in the past days to avoid loadshedding during the day. This has resulted in these being depleted, reducing available capacity,” says Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantsantsha.

By Tuesday evening, Mantshantsha said: “Breakdowns currently total 13 601MW of capacity, while another 1 330MW is unavailable due to

planned maintenance. Eskom teams are working hard to return generation units to service, as well as to replenish the emergency reserves.”

He appealed to the public to reduce the usage of electricity in order to assist the country get through these capacity constraints.

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