Eskom has announced that Stage 2 rotational load–shedding for today (7 December) until 11pm due to a shortage of capacity.
In a statement, Eskom said the shortage of capacity is due to a number of generating units that are still out of service due to breakdowns.
The statement read, “Loadshedding is required all day today to cater for further trips and to create the capacity to replenish water reserves for our pumped storage schemes. Eskom will communicate if there is a change in the system during the day.”
The power utility said they have made some progress in reducing the unplanned breakdowns from above 12 000MW yesterday to 11 000MW as of 7am this morning. “There is also an improvement in managing coal handling with regard to wet coal, with only one station experiencing coal-handling problems, as a result of the incessant rains. We continue to utilise diesel and water resources at our open cycle gas turbines and pumped storage schemes respectively, to supplement capacity.”
Eskom asked consumers to reduce demand as we are experiencing cooler and wet weather in some parts of the country.
