A contractual issue between Eskom and Tenova Mining and Minerals SA has raised concerns about extended load shedding in South Africa.
The contract dispute has led to work stopping at Kusile power station’s units five and six, with commercial operation expected to be delayed by several months, News24 reported.
This delay has raised fears that the two units will not be ready in time, increasing the prospects of more load shedding. Eskom has confirmed that work has stopped at one of the units, and Tenova has indicated that it has not walked away from the contract.
On Sunday, Eskom announced that stage 2 load shedding will continue throughout the week until Saturday (13 November).
The power utility said that the extended load shedding is due to the current lack of generating capacity and its inability to build sufficient reserves.
“Despite the implementation of stage 2 load shedding, the events over the past two days have required extensive use of emergency generating reserves, hampering the recovery of the dam levels at the pumped storage power stations, depleting already low diesel levels,” it said.
Eskom said that higher levels of load shedding could be required during the week, as the system remains incredibly volatile and unpredictable.
Eskom has warned in a summer load shedding forecast for 2021/2022 that its system is likely to remain severely constrained for the near future.
For people living in the major metros, load shedding schedules are available here:
- City of Johannesburg
- City of Ekurhuleni
- City of Tshwane
- City of Cape Town (PDF)
- Nelson Mandela Bay
- eThekwini
- Manguang
- Buffalo City
For access to other load shedding schedules, Eskom has made them available on loadshedding.eskom.co.za.
