Eskom, South Africa’s major power utility, has announced an escalation in load shedding due to the imminent forced shutdown of two generating units. This move will impact the country, with load shedding reaching higher stages starting Tuesday, 21 November. The power cuts will elevate to stage 2 from 09h00 to 16h00, surpassing the previously implemented stage 1.
Following this, stage 3 load shedding will be implemented from 16h00 until 05h00 on Wednesday. The cycle of stage 2 and stage 3 load shedding will persist until further notice, affecting various regions across South Africa. The updated schedule for load shedding outlines specific timeframes for each stage, affecting different areas from Tuesday to Thursday.
Tuesday, 21 November:
- Stage 3: 00h00 to 05h00
- Stage 1: 05h00 to 09h00
- Stage 2: 09h00 to 16h00
- Stage 3: 16h00 to 24h00
Wednesday, 22 November:
- Stage 3: 00h00 to 05h00
- Stage 2: 05h00 to 16h00
- Stage 3: 16h00 to 00h00
Thursday, 23 November:
- Stage 3: 00h00 to 05h00
- Stage 2: 05h00 to 16h00
- Stage 3: 16h00 to 00h00
This intensification in load shedding has surfaced amidst concerns raised by analysts and government officials about the instability of the national power grid. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the Electricity Minister, emphasized the necessity to increase power cuts this week to replenish emergency reserves. Eskom encountered a substantial loss of over 2,700 megawatts (MW) due to the unanticipated shutdown of units in various power stations across the country. This deficit nearly matches three stages of load shedding.
Ramokgopa highlighted, “If we had not experienced that, of course, you would not be seeing the kind of intensity of load shedding that we are experiencing.”
Independent energy analyst Pieter Jordaan expressed concerns about Eskom’s unplanned outages, which have consistently remained above 30% in recent weeks. This precarious situation means that any further failures or increased demand could trigger an escalation in load shedding.
For citizens residing in major metropolitan areas, load shedding schedules are available for reference in specific city websites, including Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, Cape Town, Nelson Mandela Bay, eThekwini, Manguang, and Buffalo City. Additionally, Eskom has made load shedding schedules accessible via loadshedding.eskom.co.za for those seeking information on other regions affected.
To assist with staying updated on load shedding, smartphone users can download the EskomSePush app. This app provides push notifications regarding the implementation of load shedding and informs users about the timing of power outages in their respective areas.
The intensification of load shedding underscores the critical need for long-term solutions to stabilize South Africa’s power grid and minimize disruptions in citizens’ lives and businesses. Eskom continues to work towards finding sustainable measures to address the ongoing challenges facing the country’s electricity supply.
