By Kaya News Reporter
Eskom has implemented Stage 2 loadshedding from Friday until 5am on Saturday.
Earlier in the week, Eskom announced a move to Stage 4 loadshedding after units tripped at Medupi, Kusile and Matla. Units at Lethabo and Arnot power stations were forced to shut down.
Eskom was able to reduce loadshedding to Stage 3 from 9pm on Thursday. They announced that Stage 2 would continue from Friday 5am to Saturday 5am.
“Over the past 24 hours a unit each at the Koeberg, Medupi, Kriel, Duvha, Kusile and Tutuka power stations returned to service, helping to ease the current capacity constraints. Unfortunately, during this time, a unit each at Majuba and Arnot power stations tripped while a single unit at Matla was forced to shut down,” Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha says.
He says while this allowed them to reduce the usage of emergency generation reserves, it is still insufficient to end current loadshedding.
“The next few days will be used to further improve the emergency reserves in preparation for the week ahead,” Mantshantsha adds.
Total breakdowns currently amount to 14 161MW while planned maintenance is 5 449MW of capacity.
No need for alarm
“We remind customers and the public that loadshedding is implemented as a last resort to maintain the stability of the power system regardless of the stage of loadshedding as the power system remains to be effectively controlled,” says Mantshantsha.
Eskom would like to assure the public that there is very low probability of a system collapse and therefore, no cause for alarm.
“We would like again to apologise for the inconvenience caused to the people of South Africa, particularly the education fraternity who is negatively affected by the loadshedding while sitting for the matriculation exams.
Click here to see your loadshedding schedule.
Also Read: Eskom pushes SA to Stage 4 loadshedding until Friday



