Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Nonkululeko Njilo
Published on 2024-02-26 12:02:23
According to Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, South Africa experienced approximately 600 hours less of load shedding between December 2023 and February 16, 2024, compared to the same period in the previous year. This reduction in load shedding hours was a positive sign of improvement in the performance of the generation fleet, with the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) showing a positive trajectory. Ramokgopa emphasized the need to sustain this positive trend in order to alleviate the impact of power cuts on the country.
The Minister’s remarks came in the wake of Eskom implementing continuous Stage 4 load shedding on February 22 due to the loss of six generation units. Nevertheless, Ramokgopa assured that three out of five units at the Kendal power station would be back online by February 26, 2024, helping to alleviate the strain on the national grid.
Eskom had previously announced Stage 2 load shedding until 4pm on February 26, 2024, but due to the recovery of emergency reserves, the level of load shedding was able to remain at Stage 2 instead of escalating to Stage 3 as initially planned. The power utility expected to restore 4,170MW of generating capacity by Wednesday. Ramokgopa explained that a significant amount of planned maintenance had been conducted between December 2023 and January 2024 to enhance the reliability of the generation fleet and ensure long-term benefits for the energy supply.
President Cyril Ramaphosa had expressed confidence during the State of the Nation Address that the worst of load shedding was behind the country and that an end was in sight. However, a forecast compiled by Eskom officials suggested a different narrative, predicting a dire electricity situation in 2024 and 2025, with South Africa potentially facing between Stage 3 and Stage 6 load shedding scenarios.
Looking ahead, Ramokgopa outlined plans for grid expansion and securing funding for projects aimed at increasing energy supply. The minister focused on expanding transmission lines in the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and Western Cape, which could unlock an additional 2,335 MW of energy in the near future.
In conclusion, while South Africa has seen a reduction in load shedding hours and efforts are being made to improve the reliability of the generation fleet, challenges remain on the horizon, requiring strategic planning and investment to ensure a stable and secure energy supply for the country.
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