Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented from 05:00 on Saturday morning and be reduced to Stage 2 on Sunday.

Friday, 09 December 2022: Loadshedding is currently being implemented at Stage 5 until 05:00 on Saturday morning. Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented at 05:00 on Saturday morning until 05:00 on Sunday morning. Loadshedding will then be reduced to Stage 2 at 05:00 on Sunday until 05:00 on Monday morning. Eskom will publish a further update as soon as there are any significant changes.

Since Thursday morning, a generating unit each at Camden, Lethabo, Majuba and Matla power stations were taken offline for repairs and planned maintenance. In addition, the delay in returning to service a generating unit each at Arnot, Duvha and Kriel power stations has contributed to the capacity constraints. 

A generating unit each at Arnot, Duvha, Grootvlei, Kendal, Kriel, Matimba and Medupi power stations returned to service.

We currently have 5 901MW on planned maintenance, while another 15 394MW of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns.

As previously communicated, due to the depletion of the budget to acquire diesel for the Open Cycle Gas Turbines, Eskom has been forced to strictly preserve the remaining diesel for any extreme emergency situations such as multiple, simultaneous trips of generators. The pumped storage dam levels also need to be replenished during this time.

The refuelling and maintenance outage starting on Saturday morning, as well as the long-term operation project of Unit 1 of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, together with the chimney failure during October that has forced three generation units offline at Kusile Power Station, will further reduce available generation capacity and exacerbate the occurrence of loadshedding during the next 6 – 12 months.

Eskom requests the public to reduce the usage of electricity and to exercise patience and tolerance during this difficult period.

Loadshedding is implemented only as a last resort in view of the shortage of generation capacity and the need to attend to breakdowns.

ENDS