Cape Town – Eskom has achieved 200 consecutive days without load shedding, with the last outage occurring on 26 March 2024.
The utility credits this milestone to its Generation Operational Recovery Plan, which has reduced unplanned outages by 8.6% and improved energy availability by 7.7%.
“The plan is projected to contribute to a potential 2% growth in the South African economy and improve Eskom’s financial performance for the financial year 2025,” the power utility said on Sunday.
Eskom CEO Dan Marokane praised the achievement as a step toward energy security and economic growth.
“We are in an incredibly exciting industry at a moment of tangible change. In preparation for a competitive electricity market, this is a significant milestone to ensure energy security and attracting investment to South Africa.
Eskom marks 200 days of loadshedding suspension that has led to predictions of 2% GDP growth for South Africa.#GenerationRecoveryPlan #EndingLoadshedding pic.twitter.com/nLuXLFc4bT
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) October 13, 2024
“We are days away from a further milestone that demonstrates the stability of our fleet… We are on track to reach 206 days [on Saturday] without load shedding, a result we last delivered five years ago on 15 October 2019,” Marokane said.
Eskom Board Chairperson Mteto Nyati highlighted the role of strategic planning and collaboration in this success, while Group Executive Bheki Nxumalo thanked Eskom employees for their dedication.
“Today’s achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team in implementing this plan. It demonstrates that with the right leadership, strategic planning and unwavering commitment, we can overcome even the most daunting challenges.
“Eskom’s journey towards a stable and reliable power supply is well on track, and we remain focused on sustaining this progress for the benefit of all South Africans.
“The Eskom Board is grateful for the support and collaborative efforts of all our key stakeholders, including government and the National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) members, who enabled us to reach this milestone today,” Nyati said.
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Picture: X/@Eskom_SA
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
