Eskom has announced that Stage 6 load shedding will be implemented indefinitely.
The ailing parastatal implemented the current
load shedding stage at 08:34 on Friday, due to the breakdown of eight
generating units overnight and Friday morning.
In a statement, the power utility said because
of this, it had to use excessive use of Open Cycle Gas Turbines and pumped
storage generation.
“The inability to pump water overnight at the
pumped storage schemes and the low diesel levels has resulted in critically low
emergency reserves which needs to be conserved.”
“Since Thursday afternoon, breakdowns of a unit
each at Duvha, Grootvlei, Tutuka, Kriel, Lethabo, Camden power stations
occurred as well as two units at Kendal Power Station. In addition, the delay
in returning to service a generating unit each at Arnot, Duvha, Matla, Camden
and Hendrina power stations has contributed to the capacity constraints. Regrettably, no units were returned to
service in the past 24 hours,” said Menzi Mngomezulu, Eskom’s Crisis
Communication Manager.
The parastatal requested the public to reduce
the usage of electricity and to exercise patience and tolerance during this
difficult period.
“Loadshedding is implemented only as a last
resort in view of the shortage of generation capacity and the need to attend to
breakdowns,” he added.
PICTURE: PixabayDone By: Mitchum George
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