By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
State owned power utility Eskom said in a statement on Sunday, that Stage 4 loadshedding will be implemented from 14:00 today until 05:00 on Monday.
Thereafter, it said Stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented from 05:00 until 16:00 on Monday, followed by Stage 4 loadshedding from 16:00 until 05:00 on Tuesday.
It added that From Tuesday onwards Stage 2 and 4 loadshedding will be implemented until further notice.
Eskom said it would publish another update should any significant changes occur. It said breakdowns had increased to 16 943MW of generating capacity while the generating capacity out of service for planned maintenance is 3 761MW. Over the past 24 hours, a generating unit at Camden and Matla power stations were returned to service.
In the same period, a generating unit each at Duvha, Grootvlei, Kriel and Matla power stations was taken offline for repairs.
The delay in returning to service a generating unit at Kendal and two generating units at Tutuka power stations is contributing to the current capacity constraints.
For access to other load shedding schedules, Eskom has made them available on loadshedding.eskom.co.za.
Smartphone users can also download the app EskomSePush to receive push notifications when load shedding is implemented, as well as the times the area you are in will be off.
Meanwhile Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said that Eskom cannot finance the country’s electricity generation on the scale and the speed at which it needs to be done.
Ramokgopa was speaking at a media briefing on Sunday morning, where he updated the country on the implementation of the energy action plan.
He said a transmission team has been formed to tackle a range of issues that are becoming increasingly worrying.
This includes four key areas that need to receive the same amount of attention as the task of electricity generation.
“The overall framework of how we are going to be executing our work on transmission is expansion of the grid, the issues of regulatory approvals, the third one is the regional interconnectors and the fourth one is the financing of the effort that we will be making going forward.”
He said Eskom has a clear lack of financing when it comes to maintenance and generation.
“I did mention that the last time the expansion and the strengthening of the grid is going to take an inordinate amount of money and of course, the Eskom balance sheet is not in a position to finance that kind of expansion that is required.”