Load shedding to run continuously until Friday

Eskom announced that Stage 2 load shedding will continuously be in effect until 5a.m on Friday

In a statement, the power utility says the extension of loadshedding is caused by the failure of additional units and the continued shortage of generation capacity due to delays in returning to service three generating units at Camden Power Station and two generating units at Tutuka Power Station.

It added that overnight, a generation unit each at Medupi, Matla, Kendal and Komati power stations failed while 240MW of power imports from Mozambique was interrupted, exacerbating the supply constraints.

The power utility said that three generation units returned to service at Matla, Grootvlei and Camden power stations.

''The extension of the loadshedding is required to preserve the remaining emergency generation reserves in an attempt to limit the stage of loadshedding. Eskom would like to inform the public that any further deterioration in generation capacity may require further loadshedding,'' Eskom said in a statement.

''Eskom would like to apologise for the implementation of loadshedding and would like to reiterate that loadshedding is implemented only as a last resort in order to protect the national grid. We will communicate should there be any significant changes to the supply situation,'' it added.

Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town says it will only shed on stage 1 until 10p.m on Wednesday, thereafter it will move to a stage higher until 5 am on Thursday.

PICTURE: Pixabay

by Everngelista Muza / Edited by: Mitchum George