Load shedding jumps to stage 4 due breakdowns

Eskom said on Friday that it would begin stage 4 load shedding.

The struggling electric company announced that it would stay in stage 4 until further notice.

According to Sikonathi Mantshantsha, a spokesperson for Eskom, the utility imposed stage 4 load-shedding because of malfunctions and a shortage of diesel.

The increase in load-shedding is due to “breakdowns amounting to 17,056MW of generation capacity, low pumped storage dam levels, and a lack of diesel.”

Eskom earlier this week about load shedding

Eskom reported on Tuesday that, in an effort to keep the lights on throughout the nation, it has used twice as much diesel this year—more than R12 billion—as it had originally projected.

The utility claims that it is now financially unviable to burn more diesel at its Open Cycle Gas Turbines and is awaiting more information on the government’s proposal to assume a sizeable amount of its R400 billion debt.
Municipalities in SA owe Eskom over R52 billion at the moment.

Jan Oberholzer, COO of Eskom, said during a briefing on the state of the system, “We will be forced to implement load shedding because we don’t have the money to burn diesel.”

He argued that the towns that owed Eskom money should think about how they contributed to increased load shedding.

As of now, there have been 159 days with no load shedding. The utility has forecasted even more load shedding and diesel expenditure for the remainder of the summer and winter of the next year.
Eskom continues to move forward with its repair plans for power plants and claims that six stations—Tutuka, Duvha, Majuba, Kusile, Matla, and Kendal—are to blame for 55% of the issues with its coal fleet.

Government officials and Eskom’s new chair Mpho Makwana anticipate that the utility will soon reach a 75% energy availability factor.

At its briefing on Tuesday, Eskom stated its goal for the upcoming year was 65%.

“Where we find ourselves now, it looks like a steep hill … However, we need additional capacity, in order for generation colleagues to properly maintain their plants,” Oberholzer said.

“Whatever it takes to turn this around and provide electricity for the nation. We’ve agreed to take on this challenge.”

 

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