Loadshedding suspension remains for 177 days, due to ongoing structural improvements in the generation fleet achieving efficiencies of R11.92 billion in year-on-year reduction on diesel expenditure

Friday, 20 September 2024: The Generation Operational Recovery Plan continues to ensure a consistent energy supply and improved efficiencies, with loadshedding remaining suspended. Eskom has achieved 177 consecutive days of uninterrupted power supply since 26 March 2024. Operational efficiency has surpassed summer expectations, with unplanned outages averaging 12 800MW over the past seven days, compared to 15 800MW during the same period last year.

Eskom has used the OCGT plant over the past seven days, resulting in diesel expenditure of R4.83 billion for 716.4 GWh from 1 April to 19 September 2024. This represents approximately 71% reduction in spending compared to R16.75 billion for 2 746.85 GWh during the same period last year.

Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF) averaged 60% over the past week, with top-performing stations such as Kusile, Grootvlei, Majuba, Lethabo, and the peaking stations maintaining an EAF above 70%. Additionally, three other power stations sustained an EAF above 60%. The continued improvement in the generation fleet’s performance is attributed to the recovery plan, accelerated maintenance, collaboration with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and the dedication of power station managers and their teams.

Operational efficiency has been in line with the summer expectations, with unplanned outages varying between 11 900MW and 13 600MW over the past week. Today’s unplanned outages stand at 10 916MW, which is 2 084MW lower than the summer 2024 base case.

A total of approximately 2 685MW of generating capacity is scheduled to return to service by Monday, 23 September 2024.

As of today, Eskom’s available generation capacity is 29 795MW, with an evening peak forecast of 27 159MW for 20 September 2024.

Eskom announced in August its outlook for the summer period, 01 September 2024 to 31 March 2025, that detailed a likely scenario of a loadshedding-free summer outlook due to structural generation improvements. This remains in force. Further details can be found here: Summer Outlook and business operations update.

Key Performance Highlights:

Reduction in unplanned outages:

• The Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) continues to be on a downward trend at 25.4% for the financial year to date (01 April 2024 to 19 September 2024), improving from 34.5% in the corresponding period last year.
• This reduction in UCLF represents a ~9% improvement compared to the same period last year.
• Unplanned outages of the generation units averaged 12 800MW during the past seven days, compared to 15 800MW in the corresponding week last year.

Planned Maintenance:

Ongoing planned maintenance is at 7 004MW, aligning with our summer maintenance strategy and bolstered by short-term maintenance to ensure continuous plant reliability.

Sustained Energy Availability Factor (EAF) improvement:

• The year-to-date (01 April 2024 to 19 September 2024) EAF is at 63.5%, a significant improvement of ~8.3% compared to the same period last year (55.18%).
• The weekly EAF has improved from 57.0% at the beginning of the financial year to 60.6% from 13 September to 19 September 2024, an improvement of 9.9%.
• This improvement is primarily due to a drop in unplanned outages (UCLF and OCLF) of the generation units.

Continued strategic utilisation of Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs):

Our strategic use of peaking stations, including pumped storage and OCGTs, remains key in managing electricity demand during peak times, particularly during evening peaks (17:00 to 22:00).

• Diesel consumption remains significantly below projected figures for this summer and is considerably lower than the past two years.
• Eskom’s expenditure on OCGTs between 01 April and 19 September 2024 increased to R4.83 billion having generated 716.40GWh, approximately 71% (R11.922 billion) less than the R16.75 billion spent last year over the same period for 2 764.85GWh.
• The OCGT load factor for 01 April to 19 September 2024 was 5.30%, compared to last year’s figure of 20.05%.
• The OCGT load factor for 01 September to 19 September 2024 was 18.96%, significantly lower than last year’s figure of 28.65%.
• Diesel usage remains below the year-to-date budget.

‘Save Your Transformers, Save Lives’ campaign
While loadshedding remains suspended, Eskom continues to face network overloading issues in certain local areas due to illegal connections, vandalism, meter tampering, unauthorised network operations, theft of network equipment, and purchasing electricity from unlicensed vendors. To prevent public safety hazards and the risk of network overloading which can lead to load reduction measures and extended unplanned power outages, Eskom strongly urges customers to avoid illegal connections, as this can negatively impact the entire local community. It is also essential for customers to ensure they purchase electricity only from authorised vendors.

Eskom implores the public to play an active role in safeguarding the integrity of the power network by reporting any illegal activities to the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 112 722 or via WhatsApp at 081 333 3323.

We will provide an update on Friday 27 September 2024, or promptly communicate any significant changes as soon as they occur.

ENDS