SA not out of load-shedding woods yet: energy expert
An energy expert believes the country is not out of the load-shedding woods just yet.
It's been 22 days since Eskom last implemented rolling blackouts.
The power utility says it's all thanks to sustained generation capacity, adequate emergency reserves, and reduced electricity demand.
The head of electrical power engineering at the Durban University of Technology, Professor Katleho Molo, says while Eskom and the electricity minister's plan to ramp up maintenance at the end of last year and January this year is paying off, it's yet to be seen if the generation capacity will be able to handle the demand in the coming winter months.
"We can't give all the credit just yet. Big companies, also after the minister signed into law that generation can increase from one megawatts to 100 megawatts, big companies have been doing a lot of work off-grid, which then means technically that Eskom's loading profile has been reloaded.
READ: Cosatu urges ‘aggressive intervention’ amid job losses at SOEs
"Are we off the hook yet? I can't guarantee that. Colleagues who are working within the aspects of weather are suggesting that we are going to have one of the coldest winter seasons."
Some South Africans think the pause in load shedding is a political move by the ANC as the general elections draw closer.
"My view is that many companies and households are now going off the grid. Eskom now has the leverage of having to switch off without affecting a lot of people. What I know is that the load has gone down, and Eskom has done well in terms of maintaining the 9,000 megawatts,” says Molo.
Find us on social media
Follow the ECR Newswatch WhatsApp channel here
MORE ON ECR
