By: Natasha Archary
Thank you for the diesel PetroSA, because as a result of the robust supply of diesel that was supplied to Eskom, loadshedding has been downgraded from Stage 4 to Stage 3.
This will be in effect throughout the weekend, as the power utility claims to still be battling with a number of breakdowns and operating on limited emergency generation reserves.
In a statement issued on Thursday, 24 November, Eskom expressed their gratitude to PetroSA after spending the week trying to secure funds for the utility’s diesel requirements.
“Courtesy of the diesel recently supplied by PetroSA, loadshedding will be reduced to Stage 3 during the night throughout the weekend. Stage 3 will be in effect from 16h00 – 05h00 daily until Monday morning. Daytime loadshedding will remain in place at Stage from 05h00 – 16h00.”
#PowerAlert1
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) November 24, 2022
Courtesy of the diesel recently supplied by PetroSA, loadshedding will be reduced to Stage 3 during the night throughout the weekend. pic.twitter.com/QLJeCLhsLm
Eskom is currently too broke to purchase the diesel itself, having already exerting its budget on diesel for this financial year. This means the embattled power utility will only be able to refuel the diesel tanks on 01 April 2023.
PetroSA which is wholly state-owned as well, may have bought Eskom some time and prevented a total blackout which has been predicted in recent weeks as the inevitable outcome from the country’s worst loadshedding spell in history.
There is no indication whether the national oil and gas company has delivered enough diesel to refuel Eskom’s open cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) completely or not.
But if loadshedding will still be continuing at Stage 3 for the duration of the weekend it is unlikely that the diesel reserves at Eskom has been fully replenished.
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