Eskom implements load shedding today and over the weekend
Friday, 5 December 2014: The power system is extremely constrained today and will remain so over the weekend necessitating the need for Eskom to implement load shedding.
This is due to unforeseen technical problems at power stations, depleted water reserves and logistical issues relating to diesel supplies at our peaking power stations.
As a result Eskom had to implement stage 2 load shedding today as of 11h00. At 12h05 load shedding was extended from stage 2 to stage 3.
The change in stages is due to the shutdown of two of our open cycle gas turbine power station which use diesel to generate electricity. The diesel reserves have been depleted at the Gourikwa and Ankerlig gas turbines leading to the shutdown of the power stations. The Drakensburg and Palmiet pumped storage schemes which use water to generate electricity have reduced output as a result of depleted water reserves.
A further 1 000MW of capacity is offline after three coal powered units tripped last night due to technical faults.