More promises broken! Eskom implements Stage 2 load shedding AGAIN

It seems like we are in a permanent state of on and off Stage 2 at the moment. Once again, from 5 PM on Saturday to 10 PM, Eskom is implementing Stage 2 load shedding. On Friday, Eskom insisted that the likelihood of power cuts over the course of the weekend was very low. Surprise! Somehow, here we are again.

Eskom delivers more Stage 2 load shedding on Saturday

Eskom says load shedding will likely be repeated at the same time throughout the rest of the coming week.

Since Friday, Eskom says more breakdowns have occurred on a unit each at Amot, Majuba, Hendrina and Kusile power stations. Two units have also gone offline at Lethabo power station.

On top of all of that, there has been a delay in returning 650MW due to planned maintenance at Cahora Bassa in Mozambique.

In a statement on Saturday afternoon, Eskom revealed that a scary number of capacity is currently unavailabe to the national power grid.

“We currently have 2 389MW on planned maintenance, while another 17 810MW of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns. Eskom appeals to all South Africans to help limit the impact of load shedding by reducing the usage of electricity and to switch off all non-essential items.”

GORDHAN, ESKOM ‘FULLY ACCOUNTABLE’ ON LOAD SHEDDING

Speaking to eNCA this week, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan admits turning things around at Eskom, including ending load shedding, won’t happen overnight, or magically for that matter.

“Right now we have a piece of work and the department and myself have been fully accountable in this particular regard. There is no magic wand that is available to anyone in South Africa. You can replace me, you can replace the CEO, you can replace the board… but that isn’t going to give us immediate answers”

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan

Gordhan says they need to get things right on an operational level at the power utility and that it is the supply of additional megawatts that will help improve the current electricity crisis.