No stage 5 load shedding (for now) as expert warns of more intense power cuts
Eskom has announced that load shedding will remain at stage 4 until 5 am on Tuesday.
The struggling power utility had initially planned to implement stage 5 load shedding between 4 pm and midnight from Monday to Wednesday.
But it has since issued a statement, confirming that the planned power cuts will be alternated between stage 4 and stage 2 until further notice.
Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented daily from 5 am to 4 pm, while stage 4 will be implemented from 4 pm until the next morning at 5 am.
The latest update comes amid a warning by energy analyst Chris Yelland that the country could experience more intense power cuts due to the utility's diesel and financial problems.
Yelland says the shortage of diesel could see at least 2000MW removed from the system.
"Eskom has advised that firstly they don't have money to procure more diesel because they have overspent their budget for this financial year by two times already. Secondly, they have run out of diesel at Gourikwa and Ankerlig and these diesel open gas turbines represents 2000MW, so they have stopped dispatching up to 2000MW of open cycle gas turbine to meet demands.
“This means that load shedding is going to worsen by a further two stages. So whatever stage of load shedding we were on previously, this will add another two stages," adds Yelland.
During a briefing last week, the utility's chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer warned that Eskom will need to undertake major repairs at various power stations.
This will remove more than 2 300MW of generating capacity from the system, leading to prolonged load shedding.
The struggling utility also plans to shut down Unit 1 at Koeberg for maintenance and refuelling on 8 December, removing 920MW of generation capacity from the national grid.
Meanwhile, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan held an urgent meeting with the Eskom board on Sunday night to find the money to buy more diesel for the power utility.
Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha confirmed on Monday morning that Eskom will hold a second meeting with the Department of Public Enterprises in an attempt to solve the diesel shortage.
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