By Philda Essop
Electricity load shedding in the Western Cape is expected to run throughout winter, but authorities say they are well prepared.
A comprehensive plan to deal with the electricity crisis - which will see Eskom distribute five million energy-saving light bulbs free of charge - was launched on Friday.
The Western Cape Integrated Recovery Plan was announced in Cape Town by the provincial government, Eskom, Real Electricity Distributor 1 (Red 1), the City of Cape Town and stakeholders in the labour and business sectors.
| Energy-efficient appliances |
The plan includes an integrated load-shedding schedule and a communication plan.
It prepares the Western Cape for four possible scenarios together with action plans and aims to inform the public of proposed load-shedding.
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Medium term plans include:
Building two liquid fuel power stations with a total capacity of 1050MW at Atlantis and Mossel Bay at a cost of R3,5-billion; and
Strengthening the transmission grid to reinforce the Cape network.
| Energy conservation campaign |
Feasibility studies for a new base load power station for the Western Cape are at an advanced stage, according to the plan.
Speaking at the launch, Jacob Maroga of Eskom said both Koeberg units were expected to be in service by the end of July.
He said the rebuilding of the stator - part of the generator - at Koeberg's Unit 1 had already started.
Koeberg's damaged Unit 1 would be ready for commissioning by the second week of May and synchronised a week later.
Power reduction at Koeberg's Unit 2, which is due for refuelling, has already started. The switching off of the unit for refuelling is scheduled for the last week in May and it should be running again during the last week of July.
"Stability" on the Western Cape's electricity network will only be restored by the end of September.
Short-term energy saving targets would be reached through efficient lighting; efficient electricity use in the industrial, municipal and commercial sector; developing a strategy to subsidise energy-efficient appliances and devices; the launch of an energy conservation campaign; and replacing electric cooking with gas.
The Western Cape will have to save between 300 and 400MW during morning and evening peak times to avoid load-shedding.
Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool said: "There are two realities we simply have to manage through the approaching winter, until both Koeberg units are again running at full power at the end of July.
"A programme of load-shedding is inevitable in that period and if our future energy supply is to be efficient and sustainable, we are going to have to adopt more responsible and conservation-conscious habits of electricity consumption."
Red 1 CEO Saleem Mowzer said that between 6.30pm and 8pm there was a massive surge in electricity usage.
"If we can save energy during that period it would place us in a strong position over the next 90 days. The CBD would have to save 10 to 25 percent energy. If we save 400MW between now and July we would not need load-shedding," Mowzer said.
Load-shedding will endeavour to treat customers equally, not switching off customers for longer than two hours, providing accurate load-shedding schedules, making schedules available 48 hours prior to load- shedding and adherence to schedules.
- This article was originally published on page 5 of Cape Argus on April 01, 2006
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