ESKOM is increasing power cuts in order to prevent a total collapse of the grid as issues grow from lack of imports to breakdowns at its coal-fired plants.
The utility, which generates almost all of the nation’s electricity, plans to increase the power it cuts from the system to 3,000 megawatts on Monday due to a “significant shortfall” of generation, Chief Executive Officer Andre de Ruyter told reporters in an online briefing.
Even the best-performing coal stations have experienced recent breakdowns and Eskom is tracking vessels with deliveries of diesel used to run turbines typically during peak demand periods.
“Extraordinary measures” are needed to improve the system, De Ruyter said. “The performance has been quite disappointing.”
There are few elements of the grid that aren’t affected by issues, putting South Africa on track for a record year of power cuts. That’s curbed economic activity in the most industrialized country on
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