Eskom’s Maintenance Plan Offers Glimmer of Hope Amid Rolling Blackouts
As South Africa grapples with persistent power outages, an energy expert from the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), Professor Sampson Mamphweli, highlights a glimmer of hope stemming from Eskom’s maintenance plan.
The country has recently been subjected to stage five rolling blackouts indefinitely, due to ongoing unplanned outages plaguing the utility.
Mamphweli stresses the importance of proper maintenance for Eskom’s fleet, noting the unpredictability of aging units as a major challenge.
He advocates for a strategic approach, even if it means enduring stage three load shedding for a year, to address maintenance issues systematically and ensure reliable electricity supply in the long run.
In response to Eskom’s performance update, the utility reports successful replenishment of pumped storage dam levels and the restoration of some generation units over the past 48 hours.
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reassures the public that Eskom will not compromise on maintenance efforts to avoid higher stages of load shedding.
He acknowledges the setbacks caused by recent breakdowns, including nine units affected by boiler tube leaks over the weekend, resulting in losses in generation capacity.
Ramokgopa emphasizes the dedication of a team of technicians working tirelessly to minimize electricity supply constraints, with two of the affected units already restored and more expected to follow suit.
He announces plans to reduce load shedding to stage four by Wednesday, expressing confidence in Eskom’s ability to address the issue effectively.
The government’s commitment to resolving the crisis is evident, with efforts focused on stabilizing the grid and preventing further disruptions to the country’s power supply.
Source: SABC News
