{"id":628082,"date":"2022-09-23T14:54:33","date_gmt":"2022-09-23T12:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=628082"},"modified":"2022-09-23T14:54:33","modified_gmt":"2022-09-23T12:54:33","slug":"load-shedding-to-continue-all-weekend-at-various-stages-heres-the-schedule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/energy\/628082\/load-shedding-to-continue-all-weekend-at-various-stages-heres-the-schedule\/","title":{"rendered":"Load shedding to continue all weekend at various stages – here’s the schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"

Power utility Eskom has published its expected load shedding schedule for this weekend, hoping to ease from stage 5 to stage 3 by Monday.<\/p>\n

However, it warned that higher stages may be necessary if diesel supplies remain constrained.<\/p>\n

Load shedding will continue at stage 5 until 05h00 on Saturday, it said, dropping to stage 4 at midnight. From there, load shedding will continue at stage 3 until 05h00 on Monday.<\/p>\n

The schedule is below:<\/p>\n

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“The capacity constraints will persist throughout next week, and current indications are that load shedding will be implemented at stage 3 for most of the week,” it said.<\/p>\n

“A further update will be published on Sunday afternoon, or as soon as there are any significant changes.”<\/p>\n

Eskom said the load shedding over the weekend will be used to replenish the pumped storage dam levels, which have been utilised extensively over the past week.<\/p>\n

It added that it is currently experiencing constraints from its diesel suppliers that is affecting the availability of bulk diesel to the Ankerlig and Gourikwa Open Cycle Gas Turbines, which have a combined capacity of 2,000MW.<\/p>\n

“Should this uncertainty of diesel supplies persist, higher stages of load shedding may be required<\/strong>,” it said.<\/p>\n

Since Thursday a generation unit each at Camden, Kriel, Majuba and Matla power stations were taken offline for repairs. A generating unit at Hendrina and two at Kusile power stations were returned to service.<\/p>\n

“While some generation units are anticipated to return to service, it is necessary to continue the load shedding to limit the usage of the emergency generation reserves.”<\/p>\n

The group currently has 5,839MW on planned maintenance, while another 15,745MW of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns.<\/p>\n

It recently published its load shedding outlook for the rest of the year, noting that it has to keep unplanned outages below 13,000MW to minimise rolling blackouts.<\/p>\n

In a more load shedding-heavy scenario, if outages remain above 14,500MW, stage 2 load shedding will be frequent for the foreseeable future. If the power utility cannot keep outages under 16,000MW, load shedding at higher stages becomes the standard.<\/p>\n

Schedules\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

For people living in the major metros, load shedding schedules are available here:<\/p>\n