In a late-night announcement, Eskom revealed a modification to the load shedding schedule, citing insufficient generation capacity and the need to replenish emergency reserves. Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena explained that Stage 5 load shedding would be implemented from 5 am until 8 pm, followed by Stage 6 load shedding from 8 pm until 5 am on Thursday.
Revised Load Shedding Schedule
Mokwena outlined the revised pattern, indicating that this combination of Stage 5 during daytime and Stage 6 during nighttime would persist daily until Saturday morning. The decision reflects Eskom’s ongoing challenges in maintaining a stable power supply.
“This pattern of implementing Stage 5 load shedding from 5 am until 8 pm and Stage 6 load shedding from 8 pm until 5 am will be repeated daily until Saturday morning.”
Operational Milestone at Kusile Power Station
The announcement of the load shedding adjustment came shortly after Eskom shared positive news about the early synchronization of Kusile Unit 2, marking a notable achievement in the Eskom Generation Operational Recovery plan. This plan aims to raise the energy availability factor to 70% by March 2025.
“This marks another significant milestone in the Eskom Generation Operational Recovery plan which aims to increase the energy availability factor to 70% by March 2025.”
Mokwena highlighted that the synchronized unit would contribute an additional 800 MW to the grid. With the return of three units in total, including Kusile Unit 3, Eskom anticipates a generation capacity of 3,200 MW, providing a substantial reduction in the frequency of load shedding.
Monitoring the Power System
While implementing the revised load shedding schedule, Eskom assured the public that it would closely monitor the power system and communicate any changes deemed necessary. The utility continues to grapple with the delicate balance of demand and supply, necessitating strategic load shedding measures.
Eskom’s decision to implement a combination of Stage 5 and Stage 6 load shedding reflects the ongoing challenges in maintaining a stable power supply. The announcement coincided with positive news about the successful synchronization of Kusile Unit 2, contributing to the broader operational recovery plan.
