Eskom flicks the power switch again
LOAD-shedding changed from stage 1 to stage 2 yest morning due to a further shortage of generating capacity and increased electricity demand.
Eskom warned that any unexpected changes on the country’s “vulnerable and constrained power system could lead to a change in the load-shedding stage at short notice”.
“Eskom would like to assure customers that load-shedding is implemented as a necessary measure to protect the power system and to ensure that maintenance is carried out in order to guarantee that our supply of electricity can be maintained in the long term.
“As we are currently experiencing cold weather conditions across the country‚ we urge electricity users to consider energy-efficient ways of keeping warm.”
Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe said on Thursday the utility was aiming to have no load-shedding.
“However‚ because 64% of Eskom’s current installed base load power stations are past their economic midlife‚ they sometimes experience technical faults or breakd resulting in a shortage of power-generating capacity. “When there’s more demand than supply‚ then Eskom is forced to implement loadshedding.”
He said the latest loadshedding was necessitated by the loss of 1 200MW from Cahora Bassa because of technical faults on their generat following the loss of 300MW on Wednesday for the same reason.
Eskom had also lost power from its own units‚ including 300MW from Duvha unit 6, owing to a technical fault and 300MW from independent solar providers in the Northern Cape because of cloudy conditions.
Meanwhile, the utility announced yesterday it aimed to borrow a further R55-billion and turn its government debt into equity as it looks to boost generating capacity.
The conversion of the state’s subordinated loan to equity is part of a government financial package for Eskom, and includes a R23-billion injection that will help the utility plug an estimated funding gap to 2018 of R200-billion.
“We are quite confident that we will be able to raise the R55-billion during this financial year,” acting chief executive Brian Molefe told parliament.
Eskom and government also said a R60-billion loan from the state would be converted into equity to improve the utility’s liquidity and expand its borrowing capacity.
Standard & Poor’s in March cut its credit ratings for Eskom to junk following the suspension of the utility’s former CEO and three other senior executives, while an investigation on the firm’s operations was being conducted.
— RDM News WireReuters