Cape Town – South Africans may soon face Stage 16 load shedding, which could involve power cuts lasting up to 32 hours.
A document called “voluntary” NRS048-9 edition 3, currently being finalised by the National Regulatory Services Association of SA, would allow Eskom to implement load shedding beyond stage 8 in unforeseen emergency situations, The South African reported.
Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena confirmed the document, stating that load shedding could be implemented up to stage 16 only in emergencies that threatened to collapse the power grid, which is a possibility during winter, the report said.
The document’s guidelines would clarify the conditions for such extreme load shedding.
According to The Citizen, Eskom‘s chief transmission executive, Segomoco Scheppers said extending the load shedding stages was “work in progress”.
“In terms of the approved standard, we currently stop at stage 8. There is work in progress in parallel to revise that standard to extend it to stage 16.
ALSO READ | Load shedding likely to hit stage 8 this winter – Eskom
“We are not planning to go stage 16. What we are saying is in terms of preparedness, in the event there is a requirement to move to higher stages of load shedding, we believe it is important that there be proper schedules so that the public and customers can know what to expect in the event we get there,” the report quoted Scheppers as saying.
Energy expert Lungile Mashele warned that conditions would worsen in the deeper months of winter, with Stage 16 load shedding lasting double the duration of Stage 8.
Eskom on Thursday warned of a challenging winter ahead, with a possibility of reaching stage 8 load shedding during cold weather.
The power utility said that it had 3 000MW less power this winter compared to last year. If unplanned outages reach 18 000MW the likelihood of stage 8 load shedding during peak times is high.
“If the interventions that we have planned for the winter do not achieve the desired outcomes and your unplanned outages reach levels of 18 000MW, then the likelihood of stage 8 load shedding during peaks is extremely high,” said Acting Eskom CEO Calib Cassim.
#Eskom Acting CEO Calib Cassim says the likelihood of #stage8 #loadshedding is very high this winter if the interventions planned for the cold weather season don’t yield the desired outcomes. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/Xu9Z544l9b
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) May 18, 2023
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
