Amid the recent stage 6 load shedding, Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom’s Head of Generation, suggests the situation will improve gradually this week.
Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, held a press briefing on Tuesday to shed light on the grid’s performance in light of the recent escalation to stage 6 load shedding.
This escalation was driven by an upswing in planned maintenance and the unexpected tripping of two additional generation units on Monday.
Ramokgopa acknowledged the short-term intensification of load shedding as a consequence of increased maintenance efforts, emphasizing that this approach was adopted to ensure the long-term sustainability of the grid.
“While we acknowledge the likelihood of intensified load shedding in the short term, it’s important to note that this is a calculated risk we’re taking to safeguard the grid’s future,” stated Ramokgopa.
During the briefing, Nxumalo chimed in, expressing optimism that the situation would start to improve in the coming days. “Towards the end of this week, we should be in a position to start reducing the stages from the current stage 6.”
As South Africa grapples with the challenges of load shedding, these updates offer a glimmer of hope for citizens eager to see some respite from the ongoing power cuts.