ESKOM will implement Stage-4 load shedding on Friday as the latest power supply crisis intensifies.
The power utility said that due to additional plant breakdowns, which have worsened the current generation constraints, stage-4 load shedding will be implemented until further notice.
“The implementation of loadshedding will be maintained at Stage 4 until further notice. The higher stage of loadshedding is mainly due to the high level of breakdowns and the depleted emergency generation reserves,” Eskom said in a statement.
Changes in the stages of loadshedding will be more erratic due to the absence of the buffer that is normally provided by the diesel generation capacity between generating unit breakdowns.
Since Friday morning, generation units at both Kendal and Kriel power stations were taken offline for repairs.
Delays in returning to service a unit each at Arnot, Grootvlei, Hendrina and Tutuka power stations have also contributed to the capacity constraints, according to Eskom.
Eskom currently has 4 887MW of planned maintenance, while another 15 320MW of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns.
On Tuesday, Group Chief Operating Officer Jan Oberholzer said the company has burnt R12bn of diesel in this financial year.
Oberholzer also announced that Eskom interim Group Executive for Generation Rhulani Mathebula has resigned with immediate effect.
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