Eskom ramps up load shedding to stage 4
Eskom
has suffered more failures in the generation units on Tuesday evening, forcing
the utility to ramp up loadshedding to stage 4 until Friday morning.
Stage 4 starts at 9am on Wednesday.
The power utility's Sikonathi Mantshantsha said overnight a unit each at Kendal, Duvha, Camden and Kusile power stations tripped.
"Since then, we have returned four units to service. However, these units still need to ramp up to full output, which necessitates a high usage of emergency generation reserves today. This being the fourth day of extremely high diesel usage, the emergency reserves are being depleted faster than can be replenished."
READ: Eskom stretches rolling blackouts into weekend
He adds that stage 4 load shedding will give them the space to replenish the emergency reserves and to continue to manage the system safely.
"This being the fourth day of extremely high diesel usage, the emergency reserves are being depleted faster than can be replenished.
"Stage 4 load shedding will therefore give us the space required to replenish the emergency reserves and continue to manage the system safely."
On Tuesday Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer said they were trying to get three units up and running by this weekend.
"But as we all know, due to the unreliability and the unpredictability of the generators and to prevent the need for any higher stage of load shedding, we, unfortunately, have to inform the pupil that we will continue with stage 2 load shedding," he warned.
