Johannesburg: Following the recovery of generation capacity and the replenishment of emergency reserves, Eskom has announced the suspension of load shedding. The power utility revealed that load shedding was suspended as of 5am on Wednesday, marking a significant improvement in the country’s power supply situation.
According to South African Government News Agency, Eskom stated that structural improvements within the generation fleet have largely mitigated the need for load shedding, with the utility focusing on eliminating it as a constraint on the economy. Dan Marokane, Eskom Group Chief Executive, highlighted the importance of learning from recent technical issues that led to multiple unit trips at power stations, which were unconnected and related to electrical and control system issues.
The suspension follows a period of Stage 3 and Stage 6 load shedding over the weekend, with Stage 4 and Stage 2 implemented on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom Group Executive for Generation, emphasized the company’s commitment to maintenance, which has resulted in a 99% electricity availability rate from April 2024 to February 2025, saving R17 billion in diesel costs. He noted that the ongoing planned maintenance of 6 660MW aligns with Eskom’s summer maintenance strategy to prepare for winter and meet regulatory requirements.
Nxumalo also reassured that South Africa would not return to the severe levels of load shedding experienced in 2023. Meanwhile, Electricity and Energy Minister Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa addressed concerns about recent load shedding, clarifying that it was due to technical issues rather than sabotage. Despite setbacks, including the loss of generation units at Majuba and Camden power stations, the Minister expressed confidence in Eskom’s ability to restore power supply efficiently, underscoring the importance of maintaining electricity for the economy.