Threat to power supply remains
JOBURG - South Africa is not out of the dark yet as Eskom’s power supply remains constrained.
The power utility has indicated that wet coal continued to pose a challenge as heavy rains persisted.
Eskom CEO Brian Dames last week stated that the electricity grid was under immense pressure and would remain severely constrained in the coming years.
Eskom spokesperson Andrew Etzinger reiterated the utility’s position saying, “The power system remains tight and is vulnerable to any changes going into winter, and will remain so for the next few years until the build programme is completed.”
According to the utility, additional power stations and major power lines are being built on a massive scale to meet rising electricity demand in South Africa.
Through this expansion programme, Eskom will double its capacity to 80 000 megawatts by 2026.
Since the capacity expansion programme started in 2005, an additional 4453.5 megawatts have already been commissioned and the utility plans to deliver an additional 16 304 megawatts in power station capacity by 2017.
However, in the interim ageing infrastructure and wet coal render the power system “vulnerable”.
The national power grid has suffered from inadequate investment and construction for years and has, as a result, left Eskom scrambling to meet the country’s electricity demand.
Meanwhile, the coal-fired Medupi power station, comprising six units, is expected to lighten the load.
Despite ongoing delays, one of Medupi’s 794 megawatt units is expected to come online later this year. Once complete, the station will have an output of 4 764 megawatts.
Additionally, projects like the Sere wind farm and the construction of the Kusile power station were underway.
Although the completion date of Kusile remains unknown, once completed it will add a total of 4 800 megawatts to the power grid.
However, until more power is generated, the utility urged all customers to maintain a 10 percent electricity saving.
Here are some tips to reduce electricity consumption:
As winter approaches, use alternatives to electrical heating.
Switch off all geysers and pool pumps from 5pm to 9pm.
Switch off all non-essential lighting and appliances.
Respond to Eskom’s Power Alert by switching off all appliances that are not being used.
Use air-conditioning more efficiently by:
Setting the air-conditioner at 23 degrees.
Close windows and doors to optimise air-conditioning.
Switch off the air-conditioning 30 minutes before leaving the office.
