South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, will be implementing Stage 4 load shedding from 4 PM this Friday until 5 AM on Saturday.
In a statement on Friday afternoon, Eskom said from 5 AM on Saturday, Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented until 5 AM on Monday 8 November 2021.
The company said this has been a result of the shutting down of three generating units at Kendal Power Station, the trip of a unit each at Tutuka and Matimba power stations and the delayed return to service of a unit each at Majuba and Lethabo power stations. The statement read in part:
Stage 4 load shedding is necessary to stop the use of OCGT generators in order to preserve the remaining fuel at these power stations, which is critically low.
There is insufficient diesel available in the country to continue generating with the OCGTs at the current rate.
It is necessary to replenish emergency generation reserves particularly at the pump storage schemes for the week ahead.
Total breakdowns currently amount to 17 437MW while planned maintenance is 4 361MW of capacity.
We remind customers that load shedding is implemented as a last resort to maintain the stability of the power system regardless of the stage of load shedding.