LISTEN: No loadshedding expected during lockdown

“Demand for electricity has dropped by more than 6 000MW on Thursday afternoon, with further demand reduction anticipated during the lockdown.”

March 28, 2020

Reitumetse Mahope 1 minute read

Eskom has announced that no loadshedding was expected during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Eskom Spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said this was due to the demand dropping.

“Eskom does not expect to implement loadshedding during the COVID-19 national lockdown.

“Demand for electricity has dropped by more than 6 000MW on Thursday afternoon, with further demand reduction anticipated during the lockdown.”

Mantshantsha said in order to protect the integrity of the system, Eskom had started taking some generation units off the grid.

“These units are available to return to service at short notice should the need arise.”

He said eskom had to postpone the philosophy maintenance for the duration of the lockdown as officials had to keep the number of workers on site at a minimum.

“We have instead shifted the focus to carrying out short-term maintenance and other repairs in order to optimised the generation units to meet the rising demand after the lockdown.”

Mantshantsha said Unplanned outages and breakdowns were at 9 116MW and planned maintenance outages are at 5 279MW.

“Eskom advises that as an essential and critical services supplier, some of its personnel are exempt from the provisions of the lockdown. “

He said as such Eskom did not expect any impediments to the generation and supply of electricity during this period, their suppliers, particularly the coal mines, logistics suppliers and those supplying the parts and maintenance services at various power stations would be able to operate during the lockdown.

LISTEN:

https://soundcloud.com/thato-mahope/whatsapp-ptt-2020-03-26-at-180152

What to do & what to look for when experiencing a power failure. Details: https://t.co/mAanpAEN8S pic.twitter.com/HT62a9XZlb

— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) March 27, 2020