Eskom denies Stage 8 load-shedding claims

Eskom

Cape Town – Eskom has denied claims that load shedding surpassed stage six after analysts claimed over the weekend that the power utility quietly imposed stage 8 load shedding on unsuspecting South Africans.

This is despite Eskom shaving over 7 000MW of demand off the grid at one point, according to Mybroadband.

The report said that the following figures stipulate how much energy is shed from the grid under each load-shedding stage:

  • Stage 1 — Up to 1,000MW
  • Stage 2 — 1,001 to 2,000MW
  • Stage 3 — 2,001 to 3,000MW
  • Stage 4 — 3,001 to 4,000MW
  • Stage 5 — 4,001 to 5,000MW
  • Stage 6 — 5,001 to 6,000MW
  • Stage 7 — 6,001 to 7,000MW
  • Stage 8 — 7,001 to 8,000MW

On Thursday during the evening peak, the power utility had energy availability of 23 771MW against a power demand of 30 747MW.

Eskom then shed 7 072MW, according to its official daily energy generation update, The Citizen reported.

ALSO READ | There is no favouritism in load shedding – Eskom

But the power utility’s interim spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, said that on the day in question, Eskom implemented stage 6 load shedding coupled with stage 4 load curtailment, EWN reported.

Load curtailment is targeted at reducing consumption by large energy users.

The claims that Eskom may have quietly surpassed stage 6 has gripped the country as residents and businesses continue to reel from the impact of the persistent power cuts.

Meanwhile, Eskom said on Sunday it was in the process of fixing a fault at Koeberg’s Unit 2 which caused it to trip on Saturday.

“The cause of the trip was due to problems with the feedwater pumps on the secondary circuit.

“The unit is expected to safely synchronise to the grid before morning peak tomorrow once all the required activities are completed,” the power uitlity said.

Eskom moved South Africa to stage 6 load-shedding on Friday after the trip at Koeberg. Another three units were offline at Kusile power station.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu 

 

 

Stage 6 load shedding to remain in force ‘until further notice’ – Eskom

Cape Town – Eskom has said that Stage 6 l0ad shedding will remain in place “until further notice”.

The power utility made the announcement on Sunday and said that this was due to a shortage of generation capacity.

Stage 6 was implemented from 16:00 on Saturday after unit 2 at Koeberg Power Station tripped unexpectedly.

“Due to a shortage of generation capacity, stage 6 load-shedding will continue to be implemented until further notice. Eskom will publish a further update as soon as any significant changes occur.

“Breakdowns are currently at 17,481MW of generating capacity while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 5,657MW.

“Over the past 24 hours a generation unit each at Duvha and Medupi power stations were returned to service. In the same period, two generating units at Kriel, as well as one unit at Koeberg power stations were taken offline for repairs.

“The delays in returning a unit to service at Kendal, Kriel, Medupi and Tutuka power stations have contributed to the capacity constraints and the team is working around the clock to ensure these units are returned to service as soon as possible,” Eskom said.

It urged South Africans to continue using electricity “sparingly and efficiently”.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu 

 

 

Eskom says ‘working hard’ to reduce higher load shedding stages

Cape Town – Eskom says it is working hard to address the causes of persistent breakdowns at power stations and ensure that the higher stages of load shedding are reduced.

The power utility said this after it implemented Stage 6 load shedding.

“Eskom regrets the escalation of load shedding to Stage 6 but would like to assure all South Africans that our personnel at the various power stations are working around the clock to bring units back online and at higher efficiencies as soon as possible.

“It is to be noted that load shedding is implemented as a last resort to maintain the stability of the national grid,” Eskom said.

The electricity provider said that long-term outages had worsened the strain on the grid and had removed some 3080MW from the power system – the equivalent of three stages of load shedding.

ALSO READ | There is no favouritism in load shedding – Eskom

“Apart from other generation challenges, the current situation has been exacerbated by the loss of four major units, which are on extended outages.

“Units 1, 2 and 3 of Kusile Power Station are currently offline as a result of the failure of the Unit 1 flue gas duct on 22 October 2022. Work is underway to bring these units back online from November 2023.

“Unit 1 at Koeberg Power Station is currently on a long-term outage for maintenance and refuelling as well as the replacement of the steam generators and is expected to return to service on 6 August 2023,” Eskom said.

Eskom maintained that it “does not want to implement load shedding if at all possible” but warned that with the power system under “severe pressure” the possibility of load shedding still remained.

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‘This is painful, yhooo’ – South Africans gatvol of being in the dark

Cape Town – South Africans have expressed their anger after Eskom announced indefinite stage 6 load shedding on Saturday – yet again.

Eskom had initially given South Africans hope when it announced that Stage 5 was expected to be implemented between 05:00  and 16:00 on Saturday, returning to Stage 6 between 16:00 and 05:00 on Sunday morning.

It also said that Stage 4 would be implemented from 05:00 to 16:00 on Sunday afternoon and return to Stage 6.

But on Saturday, Eskom made a U-turn and announced that Stage 6 load shedding was actually here to stay until further notice.

“Following the tripping of unit 2 at Koeberg Power Station this morning, Stage 6 load shedding will be implemented from 16:00 this afternoon until further notice. Eskom will publish as soon as any significant change occurs,” the struggling state-owned entity Tweeted.

Following the announcement, South Africans took to social media to vent their anger, saying they were fed up of being in the dark.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu 

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