Eskom calls Stage 8 load-shedding reports fake

Eskom has slammed claims that Stage 8 load-shedding is imminent. It’s been reported that Eskom has informed municipalities that Stage 8 load-shedding is imminent. The power utility dismissed these claims as fake, erroneous and incorrect.

In a statement on Tuesday, Eskom said, “we are required to develop contingency plans for major incidents like Stage 8 load-shedding but this doesn’t mean they will implement Stage 8 load-shedding”. It further stated that it continually improves these plans and that the likelihood of reaching Stage 8 load-shedding is low.

The statement read:

“After 2015, Eskom and the municipalities identified the need to extend the planning in place related to the number of stages of load shedding and the national code was subsequently updated after significant engagement with stakeholders in 2016/17. This has been published as NRS048-9 Ed.2 and it caters for 8 stages of load shedding. Each stage provides for a reduction in load of approximately 5% which equates to roughly 1000MW at peak. Stage 8 equates to approximately an 8000 MW deficit. The likelihood of reaching Stage 8 is low.

In compliance with NRS048-9-2, Eskom and most municipal suppliers have developed load shedding schedules that cater for stages 1 to 8. When Stage 6 load shedding was implemented in December, not all Metros or Municipalities had published their extended load shedding schedules. The Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities (AMEU) therefore engaged most of its members to confirm their compliance to the code – i.e. whether stages 5 to 8 had been published by those Metro’s that had not yet done so.

As a prudent System Operator, Eskom ensures that its contingency planning addresses several high impacts, low probability incidents such as this. This planning is in close cooperation with municipal suppliers and includes preparedness reviews and simulation exercises (as is standard practice for other incidents such as a nuclear incident or a national blackout).

In December, Eskom jumped from stage 4 load-shedding to stage 6 in a single day following a technical problem at Medupi Power Station. The heavy rains during that time were blamed for causing “coal handling problems”.

In other news – Bokang Montjane-Tshabalala – I love you my brown-skinned Son

While the world is obsessed with light-skinned people, former Miss SA Bokang Tshabalala has said she loves her “brown-skinned son.

The model, who is married to soccer star Siphiwe Tshabalala, penned a heartfelt message on her Instagram account, in which she said she deeply loves her son, Owethu. She said she has never experienced such intense love. Read more

Source: eNCA