Eskom schedules 12-hour power outage in parts of eThekwini
Eskom schedules 12-hour power outage in parts of eThekwini
Eskom has announced a planned power outage on Tuesday, 2 July, from 6:00 to approximately 18:00. The interruption is essential for transformer maintenance at the Mpumalanga Substation, aimed at improving its reliability and enhancing the quality of the electricity supply to the area.
The outage will affect the Mpumalanga Township. Eskom urges residents to prepare for this scheduled interruption.
However, customers who still have power after 6:30 can assume they will not be impacted by the outage.
Load shedding suspension continues – Eskom
Eskom also announced that load shedding has been suspended for over 90 consecutive days. This stability is the result of extensive efforts to enhance the reliability and performance of Eskom’s coal generation fleet. The last time such a prolonged suspension occurred was from 23 July 2021 to 6 October 2021.
Currently, unplanned outages average 12 000 MW, with today’s figure at 10 839 MW, which is well below the winter forecast.
Eskom’s operational efficiency has surpassed expectations, and the strategic use of peaking stations, such as Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs), has been crucial in managing electricity demand during peak times, particularly in the evenings from 17:00 to 22:00. Diesel consumption has also remained under the projected figures for this winter, significantly lower than the previous year’s usage.
Kusile Unit 5 Joins the Grid
Meanwhile, after six months of rigorous testing and optimization, Eskom has successfully transferred Unit 5 of the Kusile Power Station from the new build program to operations in the Generation Division. First synchronized to the national grid on 31 December 2023, this unit now contributes 800 MW to the grid, increasing Kusile Power Station’s total output to 4000 MW.
“Kusile Unit 5 makes an extremely valuable contribution to the national grid. Not only is it one of the largest baseload units contributing megawatts, but it also enhances the stability of the network through its nature,” said Isabel Fick, General Manager System Operator.
Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom Group Executive for Generation said this handover represents a significant milestone in Eskom’s efforts to stabilise South Africa’s power system.
“The delivery of the unit, as part of our Generation Operational Recovery Plan, showcases the remarkable achievements possible when our 40 000 employees work together as a collective,” said Nxumalo.
He extended his gratitude to all Eskom employees and contractors for their diligent work in bringing this unit to commercial operation, noting that this achievement aligns with Eskom’s commitment to maximizing grid capacity.