Stage 1 load shedding will be implemented on Saturday as the power system remains “volatile”, Eskom‘s spokesperson Dikatso Mothae has confirmed. Mothae provided an update on the power system to Fin24 via WhatsApp on Friday.
“We will load shed at stage 1 tomorrow,” she said. The load shedding status for Sunday will only be confirmed on Saturday. Crucially, South African rugby enthusiasts are hoping for power on Sunday, when South Africa takes on Japan in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final just after midday.
Contrary to what Eskom chair and acting CEO, Jabu Mabuza, told media at a briefing on Thursday evening, Eskom had not expected load shedding for the weekend. Furthermore, Mabuza said only stage 1 load shedding would be implemented on Friday.
Early on Friday morning, Eskom issued a notice that load shedding would be escalated from stage 1 to stage 2. The notice said this was as a result of losing additional capacity lost at Medupi power station in Lephalale, Limpopo, Fin24 previously reported.
“Late last night, we lost Medupi 3, 4 and 5 due to coal and ash handling issues,” Eskom said in its statement. On Friday afternoon, however, Mothae said that unit 4 had come back online.
The power utility reintroduced load shedding on Wednesday this week due to a shortage of capacity following the failure of a conveyor belt, used to carry 4 000 tons of coal, from Exxaro’s Grootgeluk Coal Mine to Medupi. Mabuza has said the conveyor belt is expected to be repaired by next Wednesday.
In other news – Eskom – Malfunctioning equipment the reason for load shedding
Eskom on Friday said it would implement stage 1 load shedding on Saturday due to malfunctioning equipment at its Medupi Power Station.
The struggling utility said the station was under severe pressure after one coal conveyor belt stopped working this week. Read more
Source: Fin24