Kusile in complete darkness: Eskom to implement stage 3 load shedding

Power utility Eskom has announced that stage 3 load shedding will be implemented “until further notice”.

This despite earlier communicating stage 3 would be suspended at 5am on Friday.

Load shedding escalation

“The delay in the return to service of a generating unit each at Duvha, Grootvlei, Kendal and two units at Tutuka power stations, as well as breakdowns of a unit each at Kusile and Komati power stations have necessitated this escalation of load shedding,” said spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha in a statement on Thursday evening.

“Currently, there are no units in service at Kusile Power Station due to breakdowns on three units while one unit is out of service on planned maintenance. We currently have 5 146MW on planned maintenance, while another 17 408MW of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns.

“Load shedding is implemented only as a last resort in view of the shortage of generation capacity and the need to attend to breakdowns”, Eskom said.

ALSO READ: Eskom to reduce load shedding to stage 1 from Friday

Load shedding to stay

South Africans will suffer from load shedding for at least another 12 to 18 months.

This was the dark and grim picture Eskom Chief Operating Officer Jan Oberholzer painted at last Thursday’s annual Agri-SA congress in Pretoria.

Oberholzer said South Africa would not be able to end the deliberate power cuts until sufficient generating capacity was added to the electricity grid to meet demand.

“In terms of load shedding, I believe it’s here to stay for a period”, Oberholzer said.

No confirmed time frame

“Up until we have the additional capacity that we can fulfil the demand of the country, while at the same time we can give that respect to the plant and maintain it properly, we are going to sit with challenging situations.

“I’m very reluctant to give a time because then people will hold me to it. But if you ask me, my gut feel. I would say another year, a year and a half to get out of this.”

READ MORE: Another 18 months of load shedding on the cards

Additional reporting by Faizel Patel