Load shedding to be implemented from 5p.m on Wednesday
Eskom will implement stage 2 load-shedding from 5pm on Wednesday until 11pm on Friday because its generation capacity is ‘’severely constrained’’.
The ailing parastatal said there was a
probability that load-shedding may be implemented at short notice should any
further breakdowns occur before 5pm.
“Continued poor performance at the Kusile,
Duvha and Tukuta power stations, as well as delays in returning some other
units to service and breakdowns over the week, have caused the need to
implement this load-shedding,” it said.
“Eskom has had to extensively utilise the
emergency generation reserves, which are rapidly depleting.”
The load-shedding until Friday will be used to
replenish the emergency generation reserves.
“We have 6,212MW on planned maintenance, while
another 11,217MW of capacity is unavailable due to the breakdowns and delays.
This has led to our inability to supply the increasing demand,” Eskom said in a
statement.
The utility said there was also a high
probability that load-shedding would be implemented throughout the weekend,
depending on the plants returning to service from planned maintenance, as well
as the levels of the emergency generation reserves.
“Eskom will continue to assess and communicate
promptly as the situation changes.”
The City of Cape Town said it will ‘protect’
its City-supplied customers by one stage, and will load shed on Stage 1 from
17:00 -22:00. Thereafter, says the municipality, it will implement Stage 2 load
shedding from 22:00 - 06:00.
PICTURE: PixabayDone By: Mitchum George
Comments