Pretoria: Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has assured South Africans that Eskom is "moving in the right direction" towards resolving the load shedding issue. South Africa has not experienced load shedding since May this year. The Minister delivered this message during a media briefing aimed at updating the nation on the state of the electricity grid.
According to South African Government News Agency, Ramokgopa expressed optimism about Eskom's performance, stating that the country is "in a good space" and the grid is stable. He emphasized the technical capability to overcome the challenges previously perceived as insurmountable. He also mentioned that no major surprises are expected regarding grid performance for the rest of the winter and into the warmer months, thanks to the design of the grid and the availability of peaking plants.
Prior to winter, Eskom had warned of potential load shedding if unplanned outages exceeded 13,000MW. However, the Minister reported that the situation is much improved, with unplanned outages averaging about 10,880MW over the past week, and occasionally dipping below 10,000MW. He commended the efforts of Eskom's workforce for their dedication to resolving the crisis.
Between April and August 8, power stations have operated with an Energy Availability Factor (EAF) of 60.14%, a significant improvement from earlier in 2023 when the EAF was around 49%. In recent weeks, the EAF even exceeded 70% at times, with a current monthly average of 65.38%. Ramokgopa highlighted that the progress made is in line with promises to the nation, and in some cases, Eskom is exceeding expectations.
Ramokgopa also noted that there are times when Eskom is generating more electricity than is demanded, necessitating the temporary shutdown of some machines to protect the grid. This surplus capacity is seen as a positive indicator, providing space for economic growth. The Minister concluded by reaffirming the commitment to overcoming the crisis, stating that the country is "marching" towards a resolution.