JOHANNESBURG: Eskom has achieved a notable milestone by maintaining an uninterrupted power supply for over nine months, a testament to its commitment to providing reliable electricity across South Africa. The energy utility announced this achievement, highlighting its substantial progress in addressing the nation’s energy challenges through strategic investments and enhanced maintenance protocols.
According to South African Government News Agency, Eskom confirmed that as of Friday, it has completed more than 275 consecutive days without implementing load shedding since March 26, 2024. This success underscores the effectiveness of its Generation Recovery Plan, which has played a crucial role in reducing unplanned outages by approximately 8.1% compared to the same period last year. Eskom attributes this improvement to the plan’s focus on increasing the reliability of its generation fleet.
The power utility also reported significant financial savings, achieving a year-on-year diesel cost reduction of R16.20 billion, a 65.1% decrease from the R24.89 billion spent in the previous year. Diesel usage remains well below the year-to-date budget, contributing to the overall efficiency of Eskom’s operations.
In August, Eskom provided a positive outlook for the summer period from September 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, predicting a load shedding-free scenario. This forecast remains unchanged, supported by the structural improvements in power generation. Eskom continues to utilize the December summer break to conduct planned maintenance activities, capitalizing on reduced industrial demand to further enhance the reliability of its services.