Stage 2 load shedding from Sunday until Wednesday

By Larry John Brown

Published: April 17, 2022 | 8:34 PM GMT

Despite initially pronouncing that there would be no load shedding during the Easter long weekend, Eskom has announced it is implementing stage 2 of the rolling blackouts from Sunday afternoon at 16:00 until Wednesday morning at 05:00.

The embattled power utility’s spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha has attributed the latest bouts of load shedding to breakdowns at some of its stations and has reminded South Africans that the implementations are always the last resort to protect the grid.

“The loss of four additional generation units at Matla, Tutuka, Duvha and Arnot power stations over the past 24 hours, exacerbated by the delay in units returning to service at Camden, Matla, Grootvlei and Tutuka power stations, has unfortunately necessitated the implementation of loadshedding. The power system continues to be fragile and Eskom is forced to implement loadshedding to manage and replenish emergency generation reserves, on which it has been relying to supply electricity this week”

Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha

ESKOM: ‘THE POWER SYSTEM REMAINS UNPREDICTABLE’

Eskom re-introduced load shedding last week due to capacity constraints at some of its power stations. But there has been some level of progress as it says that generating units at Camden, Komati and Arnot power stations returned to service since Friday.

As to whether load shedding will continue beyond Wednesday, it isn’t clear yet – but the utility has warned that its system is unpredictable.

“We currently have 5 474MW on planned maintenance, while another 17 018MW of capacity is unavailable due to unplanned breakdowns.
The power system remains unpredictable, and Eskom would like to inform the public that any further deterioration in generation capacity may require higher stages of loadshedding. We therefore request the public to continue using electricity sparingly, as we strive to return units to service. We will communicate should there be any significant changes to the supply situation”

Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha

About Larry John Brown

Larry John is a talented writer and journalist based in New York, USA. He is a valued contributor to TDPel Media, where he creates engaging and informative content for readers. Larry has a keen interest in current events, business, and technology, and he enjoys exploring these topics in-depth to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the issues. His writing style is characterized by its clarity, precision, and attention to detail, which make his articles a pleasure to read. Larry’s passion for storytelling has earned him a reputation as a skilled writer and a respected authority in his field.