Eskom announces all-day stage 3 load-shedding

3 years ago 2

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Eskom has announced that stage 3 load-shedding will remain in effect until further notice, rather than the power utility rotating between stage 3 and 4 power cuts.

The state-owned utility attributed the schedule change to improvements in its generation capacity over the past 24 hours.

“Due to some improvements in the generation capacity over the past 24 hours, stage 3 load-shedding will remain in force until further notice,” it said.

“Eskom will provide an update as soon as any significant changes occur.”

South Africa could see more load-shedding relief in the coming as environmental affairs minister Barbara Creecy announced an exemption from amending Eskom’s Atmospheric Emission License.

This means that the power utility can implement a temporary solution to run the Kusile power station’s offline generators while the damaged chimney is repaired, fast-tracking the estimated return to service of the units to ten months rather than two years.

“Eskom’s request pertains to a temporary solution to restore lost generation capacity at its Kusile Power Station while a damaged stack undergoes repairs which are due for completion in December 2024,” Creecy said.

The temporary stacks that Eskom plans to construct in the interim are expected to be completed by November 2023, allowing for the addition of 2,100MW of generation capacity to the grid — equivalent to two stages of load-shedding.

Eskom has been waiting for Creecy’s department’s project approval since 2 March 2023.

The state-owned utility expects Kusile’s unit 1 generator to return to service eight months after it receives approval to proceed with the project.

“The current plan indicates that the first unit will be available eight months after the MES approval with the second & third units one month after each other,” it said.