Load shedding alert: Eskom ramps up emergency generation to keep power on
After some of Eskom’s generating units failed over the weekend, SA’s power supply was running dangerously low by Wednesday morning.
The power utility is now battling an electricity shortfall of 12 000 MW due to these breakdowns as well as unplanned maintenance.
In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, Eskom said that while some of the units are back online, along with others that have been down due to scheduled maintenance, they are not generating sufficient electricity to meet current demand.
Unplanned outages above 9 500 MW mean Eskom has to resort to emergency power generation of open cycle gas turbines and pumped-storage hydroelectric plants. These are very expensive ways of generating power, particularly gas turbines as they require large quantities of diesel. They can only be used for short periods before diesel and water reserves start running out.