Dark days ahead as Eskom continues with load shedding

New year. Same power crisis. In all fairness we knew this, but it doesn’t mean it’s any easier to contend with.

Simply put: the depth and breadth of our power problems means it’s not just going to disappear any time soon. Worse yet, it’s probably going to get a lot nastier before we see consistent electricity supply.

Stage 6

Yesterday – for the second straight day – stage 6 load shedding was implemented “until further notice”. That’s more than six hours of load shedding a day.

NOW READ: Eskom to implement stage 6 load shedding nightly until further notice

Very few businesses and households can handle that level of power interruptions. The reason this time? Since Tuesday morning 11 generators have suffered breakdowns – a unit each at the Camden, Duvha, Grootvlei, Hendrina, Kendal, and two units each at Kriel, Majuba and Matla power stations.

Some units also returned to service but due to the severe constraints, generation capacity has to be limited for now.

Expert weighs in

Energy expert James Mackay said dark days lie ahead saying “we will likely continue to cycle between stage 3 and 5, with some stage 6 for at least the next six to seven months”.

Eina. That’s not good news at all as a cold winter looms.

Mackay said: “There are a number of units planned to return to service by mid-year including Koeberg, Kusile, Matla and Medupi and this will alleviate some of the pressure, but Eskom are seldom able to keep to committed deadlines.

Load shedding is forcing a big increase in government’s focus on Eskom, which is welcome and this has expanded to include operations, maintenance, corruption, criminality.”

Stage 6 load shedding aside, there are fresh plans to move the power utility from the department of public enterprise to that of mineral resources and energy – a move that’s been labelled as a terrible idea by experts. When, oh when, will we catch a break?

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