Minister maintains load-shedding is on stage 6, not 8

POLOKWANE – Reports that South African consumers have hush-hush been placed on stage eight load-shedding is not sitting well with Electricity Minister, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.

Ramokgopa spoke to the media at Meropa Casino and Entertainment World outside Polokwane ahead of the ANC’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting.

“I have noted some reported suggesting that we are on stage eight load-shedding and such information is not sitting well with me,” he said.

Data published on Friday, shows that Eskom had cut over 7 000MW of power from the grid on Thursday which equates to stage eight, according to the power utility’s own definition.

On Monday, Eskom announced stage six load-shedding during the day and stage five overnight until further notice.

Monday saw breakdowns in excess of 17 000MW of generating capacity being unavailable while a further 5 457MW was offline due to planned maintenance. Despite this, a unit each at the Camden, Medupi and Koeberg power stations returned to service.

Ramokgopa told the media that he had been engaging with Eskom and Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan last week about a plan for the winter, maintaining that the country is only experiencing stage six load-shedding currently.

“We anticipate that the demand is going to rise significantly from the now 30 000MW to up to 37 000MW. From Eskom’s winter plan, which was presented to us, we are still on stage six and we will be engaging Eskom in relation to the grid performance,” he said.

Ramokgopa said he is aware that major units have failed, including the Koeberg power station.

At the onset of his appointment as electricity minister, he would be open and transparent with the public and he’ll use any opportunity to share the information at hand, he remarked.

“The NWC sees it fit to elevate the conversation surrounding the energy crisis in the country, which is why I am here to present some of the actions we are proposing to address load-shedding,” he said.