Stage 3 load-shedding starting tonight

Eskom confirmed that it will implement stage 3 load-shedding in South Africa from 17:00 tonight.

In a media briefing on Friday afternoon, Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa outlined the reasons for the return of load-shedding in South Africa.

This follows the utility’s earlier press release warning that load-shedding up to stage 4 may be implemented over the weekend.

“This is a potentially temporary setback. Load-shedding is largely behind us due to the structural improvements in our generation fleet,” Eskom CEO Dan Marokane said. 

“However, over the past seven days, we have experienced several breakdowns that require extended repair times.” 

“This has necessitated the use of all our emergency reserves, which now need to be replenished.”

In the media briefing, Ramokgopa confirmed that load-shedding will be implemented and outlined the reasons for this.

Firstly, he explained that, as per the Generation Recovery Plan, Eskom has maintained a rigorous and consistent maintenance routine. This has led to planned capacity loss at many of the utility’s units.

Secondly, he said two of the utility’s best-performing stations, Matimba and Lethabo, had six units that failed at the beginning of this week. One unit has been returned to operation, with five more to go.

Eskom has reportedly been working to bring these units back into operation but has had to rely on its diesel-powered open-cycle gas turbines to keep load-shedding at bay.

Therefore, the third reason for load-shedding’s return is Eskom’s need to replenish its reserves that were drained throughout the week.

Ramokgopa explained that to protect the grid, Eskom must protect its reserve margin.

While Eskom wanted to reach a “record” of no load-shedding for a whole year, he said this cannot be achieved at the expense of the system.

The minister said Eskom is “within touching distance of resolving load-shedding”, and this is merely a setback.

He said the utility has managed to ensure that implementing load-shedding is now an extraordinary occurrence rather than an expected outcome.

Therefore, while Eskom will be implementing stage 3 load-shedding this weekend, South Africa will return to “normality” next week.