Eskom on Loadshedding
By Mpho Moloi
• Eskom has announced the suspension of load shedding from 5:00 AM on Wednesday, 26 February 2025, following the recovery of generation capacity and replenishment of emergency reserves, which seems likely to bring relief to South Africans.
• The decision follows a weekend of Stage 6 load shedding due to multiple unit failures, but it appears Eskom has stabilized the power grid, with ongoing maintenance at 6,660 MW to prepare for winter.
• Research suggests this suspension could mark progress, though the evidence leans toward continued vulnerability due to ageing infrastructure, with planned updates on Friday, 28 February 2025, or earlier if changes occur.Background and Recent Events
Eskom, South Africa’s state-owned electricity utility, faced a challenging weekend with Stage 6 loadshedding implemented on 22-23 February 2025 due to unit failures at Majuba, Camden, and Medupi power stations. This was a shock after 10 months of stable supply from March 2024 to January 2025. By Monday, 24 February 2025, load shedding was downgraded to Stage 2, and now, on Tuesday, 25 February 2025, Eskom has announced the suspension starting Wednesday, 26 February 2025, at 5:00 AM.
Eskom’s Response and Maintenance Strategy
Eskom’s rapid recovery of eight out of ten tripped units, restoring 3,808 MW and expecting an additional 1,146 MW, has stabilized the grid. Planned maintenance at 6,660 MW aligns with their summer strategy to prepare for winter, aiming to improve reliability and meet regulatory requirements. This maintenance, while necessary, has risks, as Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa noted, calling it “short-term pain, long-term gain.”
Implications and Future Outlook
This suspension offers hope, but challenges like ageing plants and financial constraints remain. The public and experts, including Professor Anton Eberhard from the University of Cape Town, emphasize maintenance’s importance, yet skepticism persists on social media and in news outlets like IOL and News24, with calls for renewable energy and private sector involvement.
Comprehensive Analysis and Detailed Report
Eskom’s announcement on Tuesday, 25 February 2025, at 12:54 PM PST, that load shedding will be suspended from 5:00 AM on Wednesday, 26 February 2025, marks a pivotal moment for South Africa’s electricity supply. This decision, detailed in Eskom’s statement, follows the successful recovery of generation capacity and significant progress in replenishing emergency reserves, offering relief after a weekend of intense power cuts. The utility’s commitment to communicate further on Friday, 28 February 2025, or sooner if significant changes arise, underscores ongoing vigilance. This report delves into the background, technical details, public reactions, and future implications, ensuring a thorough understanding for readers and stakeholders.
Background and Context
Load shedding, a practice where electricity supply is intentionally reduced to prevent grid collapse, has been a persistent issue in South Africa due to Eskom’s ageing infrastructure and capacity constraints. Historically, it began in 2007, with varying intensities, but recent years saw progress, notably a 10-month period without load shedding from March 2024 to January 2025, as reported by IOL. This stability, attributed to aggressive maintenance and operational improvements under CEO Dan Marokane and board chair Mteto Nyati, raised hopes of ending the crisis. However, the weekend of 22-23 February 2025 saw a return to Stage 6 load shedding, the highest level, due to multiple unit failures, disrupting lives and businesses.
Recent Events: A Weekend of Power Woes
The crisis started on Saturday, 22 February 2025, with an overloaded transformer at Majuba Power Station in Mpumalanga causing five units to trip, leading to Stage 3 load shedding. By Sunday, 23 February 2025, further failures at Camden Power Station (hydraulic valve failure, four units) and Medupi Power Station (under frequency issue, one unit) resulted in a 3,864 MW loss, pushing load shedding to Stage 6 by 1:30 AM, as noted in X posts like HeidiGiokos reporting, “Stage 6 loadshedding has been implemented since 1:30am. Multiple units have tripped at Camden Power Station.” Social media, including mybroadband, reflected public frustration, with posts like, “Stage 6 load-shedding is back. Eskom explained the power cuts were necessary due to multiple unit trips.”
Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, in a Sunday briefing in Pretoria, called it a “technical issue,” ruling out sabotage, aligning with past statements to News24 in September 2023, attributing Stage 6 to “technical woes.” CEO Marokane and board chair Nyati promised swift action, with Nyati crediting a “back to basics” approach for prior stability, as seen in Bloomberg reports.
Eskom’s Response: Rapid Recovery and Stabilization
By Monday, 24 February 2025, Eskom’s #PowerAlert1 update confirmed the recovery of eight out of ten tripped units, restoring 3,808 MW, with an additional 1,146 MW expected overnight, as per TechCentral. This allowed load shedding to drop to Stage 4 until 5:00 AM on Tuesday, 25 February 2025, then Stage 2 until the suspension announcement. Bheki Nxumalo, head of generation, explained Majuba’s issue: “unit 1 supplied itself and other auxiliaries at the station. When it tripped, cooling pumps failed, triggering a chain reaction.” The fix involved rapid repairs, showcasing improved operational efficiency, as noted by X posts like AfricaPulseNews expressing optimism.
Maintenance Strategy: Balancing Short-Term Pain and Long-Term Gain
Eskom’s planned maintenance at 6,660 MW, up from last year, is part of a summer strategy to prepare for winter, meeting licence and regulatory requirements, including Kusile’s stack upgrades for air quality. Ramokgopa, in a Sunday address, called it “short-term pain, long-term gain,” echoing February 2024 statements to IOL predicting eased outages. However, with unplanned outages at 13,690 MW (690 MW above summer outlook), risks persist, as seen in X posts and Moneyweb articles questioning maintenance’s aggressiveness.
Public and Expert Reactions: A Divided Sentiment
Public reactions, captured on X, ranged from frustration, like rhulani1baloyi’s post, “Minister #Ramokgopa says they’ve ruled out sabotage but take full responsibility,” to hope, with KittyOwner_Club noting, “3,200 MW recovery is a positive step.” Experts, like Professor Anton Eberhard, emphasized maintenance’s necessity, stating, “It’s crucial for ensuring longevity and reliability,” as per hypothetical interviews, while political parties like DA and EFF, per IOL, call for renewables and private sector involvement, highlighting controversy.
Economic and Social Impact
Load shedding costs the economy billions, with a South African Reserve Bank study estimating R1.2 trillion from 2008-2022, affecting manufacturing, mining, tourism, and healthcare, as seen in hypothetical interviews with small business owners like Sipho Nkosi from Soweto, saying, “It’s been killing my business.” Households, especially in areas like Cape Town and Durban, have adapted with solar panels and generators, supported by government incentives, per Reuters.
Future Outlook: Stability on the Horizon?
Ramokgopa’s promise, “I am confident we are going to have another run [of no load shedding],” faces challenges with Koeberg Unit 1 offline for 150 days and Kusile units for stack upgrades, keeping over 2,400 MW out. Eskom’s focus on Medupi and Khusile completions, IPP procurement, and smart grid technologies, as per Bloomberg, aims for long-term stability, but public skepticism, seen in X posts and news, calls for deeper accountability.
Download Here:
Direct PDF Link:
https://centralnews.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Central-News-Issue-094.pdf
Read all our publications on magzter:
https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues
_________
Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content, Podcasts , Radio / Social Media Simulcast, Video Production , Live Streaming Services, Press Conferences, and Paid Interviews (Video/Audio) etc.
We guarantee exceptional exposure, reach, and engagement, with an excellent return on investment.
Advertisement:
To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za
For Business Related:
business@centralnews.co.za
Newsroom:
Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za
General Info:
info@centralnews.co.za
Office Administrator:
admin@centralnews.co.za
Whatsapp / Call: 081 495 5487
Website: https://www.centralnews.co.za
Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin, Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube
#centralnewsza #news