Eskom has issued an urgent alert warning of a high risk of loadshedding at short notice, following over 10 months of uninterrupted electricity supply, a milestone achieved through the success of its Generation Recovery Plan.
“This is a potentially temporary setback. Loadshedding is largely behind us due to the structural improvements in our generation fleet. However, over the past seven days, we have experienced several breakdowns that require extended repair times. This has necessitated the use of all our emergency reserves, which now need to be replenished. Consequently, we are closely monitoring the status of our current emergency reserves, and loadshedding up to Stage 4 may be implemented over the weekend,” said Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane.
Eskom will provide further updates as the situation develops.
Eskom’s relentless execution of the Generation Recovery Plan has achieved a monumental milestone: 303 consecutive days without loadshedding since 26 March 2024. This Sunday, 26 January, marks 10 full months of uninterrupted power supply, a testament to the utility’s progress in its turnaround strategy.
In addition to this remarkable achievement, Eskom has saved R16.40 billion in diesel costs year-to-date, a staggering 62.4% reduction compared to the R26.27 billion spent during the same period last year. These savings underscore Eskom’s commitment to financial prudence and operational efficiency.
Summer outlook remains positive
Last August, Eskom forecasted a loadshedding-free summer from 1 September 2024 to 31 March 2025, citing structural improvements in generation capacity. This outlook remains unchanged, with the utility confidently maintaining its prediction of a stable power supply throughout the season.
