South Africans are set to experience stage 3 load shedding as Eskom announced it will implement power cuts from 5 pm on Friday to replenish emergency reserves.
Loadshedding After 10 Months of Stability
Minister of Electricity, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, described the situation as a “perfect storm” of unexpected breakdowns and ongoing maintenance. This follows Eskom’s warning of a high risk of load shedding, marking the end of over 10 months of uninterrupted power supply.
Ramokgopa said Eskom’s leadership is disappointed by the return of load shedding, particularly after such a long period of stability. However, he explained that a combination of factors led to the sudden escalation.
The ‘Perfect Storm’ Behind Loadshedding
According to the minister, Eskom faced a series of unplanned breakdowns while conducting necessary maintenance work. Among the affected power stations were Matimba and Lethabo, two of the country’s most reliable electricity generators.
“We’ve been hit by a perfect storm. Planned maintenance was already underway, but additional unexpected breakdowns at our top-performing power stations severely impacted capacity,” said Ramokgopa.
He added that Eskom had to heavily rely on open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) throughout the week, which burn diesel to generate electricity. The excessive use of emergency reserves has now forced the power utility to implement load-shedding to restore backup capacity.
Eskom CEO: Loadshedding is a Temporary Setback
Despite the setback, Eskom CEO Dan Marokane reassured the public that load shedding remains a temporary challenge.
“While load shedding has returned, it is important to note that structural improvements in our power generation have kept blackouts at bay for the past 10 months. However, multiple breakdowns this week required extended repair times, leading to the depletion of emergency reserves,” said Marokane.
He emphasized that Eskom’s summer outlook remains unchanged, and the power utility remains committed to minimizing load shedding in the long term.
As Eskom works to stabilize the grid, South Africans are once again urged to use electricity efficiently to help reduce the impact of load shedding.
Also read: Eskom Warned on Load Shedding Risks Despite Saving R16.3 Billion in Diesel Costs
