Eskom has moved its power cuts from level 2 to level 4 due to generating units breaking down. Level 4 power cuts are set to begin from 9 a.m. on Wednesday. On Tuesday the power utility said power cuts will be rolled out until Saturday. Stage 4 load shedding will end on Friday at 05:00 and will return back to level 2.
Sikonathi Mantshantha, Eskom spokesperson said, “It is with a great deal of disappointment that Eskom has to inform the public that further failures overnight of generation units has necessitated the implementation of stage 4 load shedding starting at 9 a.m. this morning.”
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The power utility began implementing power cuts from Monday and for a while there was no power cuts. Multiple unit failures are blamed for the power cuts. Eskom has explained that units at the Kendal, Duvha, Camden and Kusile power stations had tripped, and power had to be restored. Four units have fortunately been regained.
“However, these units still need to ramp up to full output, which necessitates a high usage of emergency generation reserves today. This being the fourth day of extremely high diesel usage, the emergency reserves are being depleted faster than can be replenished. Stage 4 loadshedding will therefore give us the space required to replenish the emergency reserves and continue to manage the system safely,” said Mantshanath.
Source: Eyewitness News, The South African, Tech Central, image from Eyewitness News
