By: Natasha Archary
There’s no end in sight to the rolling blackouts that South Africans are forced to endure as Eskom says Stage 5 is here to stay.
The embattled power utility claims it plans to purchase an additional 1000MW to bolster constrained generation capacity.
Eskom says acquiring 1000MW of electricity will make an important contribution towards reducing the loadshedding burden on customers.
Downgrading from Stage 6 to Stage 5, Eskom says the only way to end loadshedding is to build new power stations.
“Overnight a unit each at Camden, Kriel, Kusile and Kendal were returned but unfortunately had to take off a unit at Duvha which developed a boiler tube leak. Loadshedding will thus be reduced to Stage 5 at midnight.”
However, with fears that the rolling blackouts will become a permanent fixture in the lives of South Africans, Eskom says the decision to proceed rests with the Energy Minister.
Bound by legislation, the decision on whether Eskom can or cannot build new power plants is one that can only be made by Gwede Mantashe.
This would mean that South Africans will have to fork out more than they are currently paying for a service that is practically non-existent.
Pushing for a 32% tariff hike increase for the 2023/24 financial year, Eskom says this is the only way to ensure that they are able to keep the lights on.
Also read: UCT Professor Pierre de Vos implicated in child porn, claims his account was hacked



