By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
State owned power utility Eskom says on Monday, Stage 3 load shedding will be implemented from 05:00 until 16:00, while Stage 4 will be implemented from 16:00 until 05:00 on Tuesday.
The power utility said that the pattern will continue until further notice, and it will issue a further update if any significant changes occur.
Eskom said that breakdowns currently stand at 15 148MW of generating capacity, with 7,417 MW of generating capacity out for service ahead of the winter period – which sees increased demand.
The group said that four generation units were returned to service at Kriel, Matimba, Matla and Tutuka power stations in the last 24 hours.
However, a generating unit each at Duvha, Hendrina and Kriel power stations were taken offline for repairs in the same period.
Eskom said that delays in returning a unit to service at Duvha and Tutuka power stations are exacerbating capacity constraints.
Meanwhile the embattled power utility has faced several headwinds over the last few months and was recently served with a R950 million fine.
Two independent sources at Eskom said that an adjudication ruling made last week awarded French Firm Framatome R950 million due to Eskom postponing planned work during a maintenance outage that began last year.
Framatome has a contract to replace six steam generators at Koeberg.
The French Firm was awarded a separate R650 million from Eskom last year after the Constitutional Court upheld a cost order from the Supreme Court of Appeal.
“There are now over 100 active contractual disputes between Eskom and Framatome, with a single one of them with a value of approximately R1 billion,” former board member of the National Nuclear Regulator Peter Becker said.
Becker added that the cost of refurbishment at Koeberg is far higher than Eskom is letting on.
Eskom said that the refurbishment cost would total roughly R20 billion, however, Virtual Energy and Power director Clyde Mallinson said that this estimate was done in 2020, with the revised cost likely being between R40 and R70 billion.
Koeberg is one of South Africa’s most reliable power stations, however, a delay in completing maintenance at Eskom’s only nuclear power station is a worrying sign for winter in South Africa.
Koeberg’s unit 1 produces 920MW and reduces load shedding by roughly one stage, however, a delay in replacing a steam generator is adding to daily power cuts.
The return to service of unit 1 of the nuclear power station has a new target date of 13 September, which is roughly three months after it was supposed to be completed.