Load shedding back till Saturday

On the day that SA’s latest GDP figure for the second quarter of 2022 was released, showing load shedding was a key contributor to the 0.7% contraction in the economy for Q2, Eskom announced stage 2 load shedding will be back from 16h00 and further power cuts will be implemented until Saturday.

Read: GDP shrinks by 0.7% in Q2

The state-run power utility said in a statement on Tuesday that stage 2 will be implemented between 16h00 and 22h00, whereafter it resume between 05h00 and 22h00 daily until Saturday night.

It says a shortage of generation capacity caused by unit breakdowns and the inability of the utility to return generation units back to service in time has necessitated the resumption of power cuts.

The latest bout of load shedding is set to place further strain on the SA economy.

Read: SA’s worst week of load shedding to hit economy hard

“The breakdown of a generation unit at Arnot, Duvha, Kendal, Medupi and Tutuka power stations, as well as the delays in returning to service a unit to service at Hendrina Power Station, have exacerbated the capacity constraints,” Eskom said.

“On Saturday morning, 03 September 2022, Unit 2 of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station tripped from full power during the routine testing of the control rod system. The process to return the unit to service is under way.”

Eskom says it currently has 4 588 megawatts (MW) worth of generation capacity out on planned maintenance, while a further 16 142MW has been lost because of breakdowns.

“We therefore urge all South Africans to continue using electricity sparingly. Eskom will promptly communicate should there be any significant changes.”

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