Eskom has announced that Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from 9 am on Thursday until 6 am on Saturday.
The power utility says this is due to the loss of three additional units overnight. According to Eskom, there’s a high possibility that load shedding will continue over the weekend as there’s a need to replenish reserves for the coming week.
Eskom Spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha says, “This is due to three additional power generation units having been lost through the night at three different power stations. We are working hard to restore them to service but they have added to our shortage of capacity so we urging the people to help us reduce demand.”
#POWERALERT 1
Date: 20 February 2020
Stage 2 rotational loadshedding will be implemented from 09:00 today until 06:00 on Saturday, with a high probability that loadshedding will continue over the weekend @SABCNewsOnline @eNCA @IOL @ewnupdates @TimesLIVE @News24 @TheSAnews pic.twitter.com/SogwsxYmyV
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) February 20, 2020
This comes after Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe announced on Wednesday that the country’s power utility Eskom faces two years of load shedding.
This in contrast to Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter saying that load shedding can be expected for the next 18 months as it catches up on maintenance.
Speaking on the second day of the debate on the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament, Mantashe says the unreliable electricity supplier is the biggest threat in the economic growth of the country.
“Eskom demands above 31000 megawatts. According to the power utility we face at least two years minimum of potential load shedding.”
“The President mentioned the following measures we will implement to address energy shortage, procurement of emergency power, the easing of requirements and process for generation for all use and enabling municipalities in good financial standing to buy their own power.”
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