Eskom
By Lerato Mpembe
Eskom announced on Sunday, 9 March 2025: “After the recovery of more than 3 000MW of generation capacity and replenishment of sufficient emergency reserves in the past 44 hours, loadshedding will be suspended today at 10:00.” This welcome news brings relief to millions of South Africans who faced Stage 3 loadshedding since Friday, following a sudden loss of power generation capacity. With coal operations at Kusile Power Station back to optimal levels and progress on Koeberg Unit 2 well underway, Eskom is optimistic about maintaining a stable power supply as it continues its recovery efforts.
Introduction: A Brighter Day for South Africa
South Africans woke up to good news on Sunday morning as Eskom confirmed the suspension of loadshedding, ending a brief but frustrating return of power cuts. The state-owned power utility has turned a corner after a challenging week, recovering over 3,000MW of generation capacity in just 44 hours. This swift turnaround, coupled with replenished emergency reserves, has allowed Eskom to hit the pause button on loadshedding, effective from 10:00 on 9 March 2025.
The announcement comes after a tough few days for the country, with Stage 3 loadshedding implemented from Friday, 7 March, due to unexpected setbacks at key power stations. However, Eskom’s dedicated teams have worked around the clock to restore stability, offering a glimmer of hope to homes and businesses battered by years of unreliable electricity. This article dives into the details of Eskom’s latest achievement, the factors behind it, and what it means for South Africa’s energy future.
The Loadshedding Rollercoaster: From Setback to Suspension
A Sudden Dip in Power
The past week tested Eskom’s resilience. On Friday, 7 March, the utility announced Stage 3 loadshedding from 14:00 until Monday, 10 March, at 05:00. The decision followed a loss of 2,700MW in just 14 hours, triggered by multiple issues. Koeberg Unit 2, which had returned to service on Wednesday, tripped offline again, while two units at Kusile Power Station faced “sub-optimal” coal operations—Eskom’s term for wet coal caused by adverse weather. These setbacks forced Eskom to lean heavily on emergency reserves, draining resources meant to cushion the grid.
Posts on X captured the public’s frustration, with users like @chrisyelland noting the wet coal woes at Kusile. The sudden return of loadshedding, after 325 days of mostly uninterrupted power in the 2024/25 financial year, felt like a step backwards. Yet, Eskom’s response was swift and decisive, proving its recovery plan still holds strong.
The Turnaround: 3,000MW Recovered
By Sunday morning, Eskom had clawed back over 3,000MW of generation capacity. “Coal operations at Kusile Power Station are at optimal levels,” the utility said, confirming that all units offline since Friday were back in service. This rapid recovery highlights the effectiveness of Eskom’s maintenance teams and their ability to tackle coal-related challenges head-on.
Meanwhile, “progress on the recovery of Koeberg Unit 2 is well underway.” After its unexpected shutdown, engineers are conducting a safety review and have begun the start-up process. “Eskom reassures the public that Koeberg Unit 2 remains safe,” the statement added, addressing concerns about the nuclear unit’s reliability. The utility expects to restore an additional 4,091MW by Monday, further bolstering the grid.
Key Factors Behind the Suspension
Kusile Power Station: Back at Full Steam
Kusile, one of Eskom’s flagship coal-fired stations, played a starring role in this turnaround. After wet coal disrupted two units last week, engineers worked tirelessly to dry out the fuel and bring operations back to “optimal levels.” This success is part of a broader improvement at Kusile, where units previously offline—like Unit 5, synchronised in December 2023, and Unit 6, added in December 2024—have added 1,600MW to the grid over the past 18 months.
The Citizen reported on 9 March that Kusile’s return to full capacity was a game-changer, aligning with Eskom’s goal to keep unplanned outages below the 13,000MW summer base case. With all units now firing, Kusile is a cornerstone of the utility’s efforts to stabilise baseload power.
Koeberg Unit 2: A Work in Progress
Koeberg Nuclear Power Station’s Unit 2 has had a bumpy ride. After returning from a long-term outage on 30 December 2024, adding 930MW, it tripped again on 2 March, as noted in an X post by @Zulu72944051488. The latest update confirms that recovery is on track, with safety checks ensuring no risks to the public or the grid. While it’s not yet back online, Eskom’s transparency about its status builds trust in a jittery public.
Strategic Maintenance and Reserves
Eskom’s statement emphasised that “planned maintenance outages aimed at preparing for winter and meeting regulatory and environmental licensing requirements continue.” Currently at 5,798MW as of mid-October 2024 (per Eskom’s 18 October update), this maintenance is higher than usual for summer, reflecting a proactive push to avoid a repeat of past winter crises. December 2024 saw maintenance peak at over 8,000MW, taking advantage of lower industrial demand during the festive season.
The replenishment of emergency reserves—like pumped storage and open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs)—also played a critical role. After heavy use last week, dam levels are back to full, and OCGTs are ready to step in if needed, ensuring a buffer against future shocks.
Eskom’s Bigger Picture: A Generation Fleet on the Mend
The Summer Outlook Holds Firm
Eskom’s Summer Outlook, released on 26 August 2024, predicted a loadshedding-free summer if unplanned outages stayed below 13,000MW. “Eskom’s Summer Outlook, published on 26 August 2024, remains unchanged,” the utility reiterated on Sunday. This confidence stems from structural improvements that have kept loadshedding at bay for 282 days by 3 January 2025, a stark contrast to the 153 days of cuts in winter 2023.
The outlook’s base case has proven accurate. Unplanned outages, averaging 11,906MW year-to-date as of 2 January, are well below the 13,000MW threshold. Even last week’s spike to 13,279MW (reported on 2 February) was quickly tamed, with Sunday’s figure dropping to 11,540MW—1,460MW under the base case.
A Year of Progress
Eskom’s Generation Operational Recovery Plan, launched in March 2023, is bearing fruit. Key wins include:
• Kusile’s Revival: The return of three units since October 2022 and the addition of Units 5 and 6 have boosted capacity by 3,200MW.
• Koeberg’s Longevity: Unit 1’s steam generator replacement in 2023 and Unit 2’s return in December 2024 ensure nuclear reliability for another 20 years.
• Diesel Savings: A 74% reduction in OCGT use has saved R16.52 billion in diesel costs from April 2024 to January 2025, per Eskom’s 3 January update.The Energy Availability Factor (EAF) tells the story: up from 55.17% last year to 62.17% by 2 January 2025. Top performers like Kusile, Medupi, and peaking stations consistently hit over 60%, with Duvha reaching 81.9% in October 2024.
What This Means for South Africans
Relief for Homes and Businesses
The suspension lifts a burden off households and businesses. After Friday’s cuts disrupted weekend plans—think load-shedded braais and stalled production lines—Sunday’s news restores normalcy. Small businesses, hit hard by unpredictable power, can breathe easier, while families regain access to essentials like lighting and refrigeration.
Economic Boost
A stable grid supports South Africa’s economy, already strained by years of loadshedding. Eskom’s 26 August outlook projected a potential 2% GDP growth for 2025 if power holds steady. With loadshedding suspended for 98% of the 2024/25 financial year (7,871 hours versus 2,103 last year), businesses can plan with confidence, and investor sentiment may improve.
A Fragile Victory
Eskom cautions that “while baseload capacity remains constrained, our generation recovery plan is addressing this challenge.” The loss of 2,700MW last week exposed vulnerabilities, and experts warn that ageing infrastructure—averaging 42 years per a 2022 Eskom report—still poses risks. The utility’s pledge to keep loadshedding “largely behind us” hinges on sustained maintenance and no major surprises.
Voices from the Ground
Eskom’s Leadership Speaks
Group CEO Dan Marokane, reflecting on Friday’s cuts, said, “Loadshedding is a painful reminder of the past… We again apologise to the nation for this temporary setback.” On Sunday, optimism returned: “The dedicated efforts of our highly skilled staff remain unwavering,” Eskom’s statement read, crediting its 40,000-strong workforce.
Public Sentiment
Posts on X reflected relief and cautious hope. @VOCfm tweeted, “Eskom has announced that loadshedding will be suspended from 10am today after recovering over 3,000MW,” while @george_mun added, “Kusile Power Station operating optimally ⚡ Koeberg Unit 2 recovery progressing.” Yet, some users remain wary, recalling last week’s sudden plunge.
The Road Ahead: Challenges and Promises
Winter Prep in Full Swing
With winter looming, Eskom’s high summer maintenance—8,733MW as of 3 January—is a strategic move. “Planned maintenance outages aimed at preparing for winter” will peak again in December 2025, ensuring stations like Medupi, set to return Unit 4 by March 2025 with 800MW, are ready for colder months.
Adding Capacity
Eskom aims to add 2,500MW by January 2025, per its 26 August outlook. Kusile Unit 6 (800MW) and Koeberg Unit 2 (930MW) are done, with Medupi Unit 4 next. This buffer could keep loadshedding at bay, even if unplanned outages hit the “unlikely” 15,000MW scenario, triggering Stage 2.
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