JOHANNESBURG - The likelihood that Eskom may implement load shedding on Saturday, which may continue throughout the weekend, has increased significantly following multiple generation unit trips overnight, the embattled state-owned power utility said.
"We lost seven generation units at four power stations - Duvha, Tutuka, Kriel, and Grootvlei - due to various technical faults. The root causes of these incidents are being investigated and corrective measures [are] to be implemented," Eskom said in a statement.
This had caused additional strain on the reserve capacity. In order to rebuild emergency reserves for the coming week, there was therefore an increased probability of implementing load shedding on Saturday night.
Eskom was currently utilising expensive emergency generation reserves to supplement supply, which was unsustainable. The system remained constrained, vulnerable, and unpredictable.
"Unplanned breakdowns" or outages were at 11,868 MW as at 10.50am on Saturday morning and planned maintenance outages were at 5430 MW.
"We remind South Africans that there is a possibility of increased load shedding as we are conducting critical maintenance to restore the ageing plant to good health. We request customers to continue to use electricity sparingly and to assist us in reducing demand," Eskom said.