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Power utility Eskom says that stage 6 load shedding will continue this weekend, with a couple of breaks during the day.
Due to lower weekend demand, load shedding will be reduced to Stage 5 from 05h00 until 16h00 on Saturday, it said.
However, thereafter, stage 6 load shedding will again be implemented from 16h00 until 05h00 on Sunday.
Stage 4 load shedding will be implemented from 05h00 until 16h00 on Sunday, followed again by stage 6 load shedding until 05h00 on Monday.
Eskom said it will publish a further update as soon as any significant changes occur.
The schedule is as follows:
Friday, 14 April
Saturday, 15 April
- Stage 6: 00h00 to 05h00
- Stage 5: 05h00 to 16h00
- Stage 6: 16h00 to 00h00
Sunday, 16 April
- Stage 6: 00h00 to 05h00
- Stage 4: 05h00 to 16h00
- Stage 6: 16h00 to 00h00
Monday, 17 April
- Stage 6: 00h00 to 05h00
- Stage and timing TBD
Breakdowns are currently at 17,093MW of generating capacity, while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 6,392MW.
Over the past 24 hours, a generation unit each at Kendal and Lethabo power stations were returned to service.
In the same period, two generating units at Camden Power Station were taken offline for repairs.
The delays in returning a unit to service at Kendal, Tutuka and two units at Medupi power stations have contributed to the capacity constraints. Eskom said its team is working around the clock to ensure that these units are returned to service as soon as possible.
Persistent stage 6 load shedding has set alarm bells ringing for South Africa’s approaching winter months when demand is expected to increase.
Energy experts say that the utility is struggling to meet the lower summer demand now, so things are only going to get worse as the weather gets colder.
According to the electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, South Africa’s supply and demand profile is typically 27,000MW/32,000MW during the summer months – and this is likely to jump to 27,000MW/37,000MW in winter, leaving a 10,000MW shortfall.
Without a significant improvement in generation – or just as big a cut in demand – the country could thus be subject to stage 10 load shedding.
Public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan said that Eskom was struggling to reliably produce 23,000MW of energy, making the deficit even greater.
While Eskom’s generation outlook is showing red across the board – ie, load shedding throughout – experts say that the forecast doesn’t factor in sudden events like cold snaps, which could push demand up even more.
Ramokgopa said the country is facing a very difficult winter.
Schedules
For people living in the major metros, load shedding schedules are available here:
For access to other load shedding schedules, Eskom has made them available on loadshedding.eskom.co.za.
Smartphone users can also download the app EskomSePush to receive push notifications when load shedding is implemented, as well as the times the area you are in will be off.
Read: Stage 9 load shedding warning for South Africa
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