Eskom extends load shedding suspension until Monday

·1 Oct 2023

Power utility Eskom says that load shedding will continue to be suspended until Monday evening (2 October) as a result of the sustained improved generation performance and the lower-than-anticipated demand.

Eskom said due to the return to service of Kusile 3, the sustained improved generation performance and the lower-than-anticipated demand for electricity, load shedding will be suspended until 16:00 on Monday.

This will then be followed by Stage 2 load shedding. Eskom noted that it will communicate should any significant changes occur.

Power utility Eskom says that unit 3 of the Kusile Power Stations has been brought back online two months ahead of its planned return date.

This will add another 800MW to the grid once fully online, the group said, which should go some way in easing the pressure on the national grid.

“Kusile Power Station Unit 3 is returned to service two months ahead of schedule and will improve the available generation capacity by 800 MW once loaded to full capacity. This marks a significant milestone in Eskom’s efforts to reduce and ultimately end load shedding,” it said.

“The switch on was done after receiving the positive decision on the Kusile Atmospheric Emission Licence (AEL) appeal from the Minister of Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and the Nkangala District Municipality.”

Eskom announced in August that it was progressing well with the Kusile returns and later confirmed that the planned dates for operation would be brought forward.

Unit 3 was planned to be back online at the end of November 2023, with the remaining two units back up in December. However, unit 3 is now back up, with the remaining unit expected to be online earlier than planned as well.