For illustration (Photo: Andrey Metelev via Unsplash)
Phase 6 load shedding will apply until further notice after a generating unit at the Medupi power station failed.
Phase 6 load shedding was introduced at 16:00 on Wednesday, but would only apply until 05:00 on Thursday morning before phase 5 load shedding would be applied. After this, phase 6 and phase 5 load shedding would be applied alternately.
According to Eskom, the increase in demand after the long weekend and the reopening of schools put additional pressure on the power grid.
There is great concern about how the load shedding situation will play out going forward with the winter months fast approaching.
Solidarity said on Wednesday that at this stage there are no grounds to fear the introduction of phase 10 load shedding, even though the Minister of Electricity, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, earlier warned about its possibility.
Dr. Dirk Hermann, managing director of Solidarity, says that even the introduction of phase 8 load shedding is unlikely, except “if something unforeseen happens”.
“The electricity minister likes to shock and make powerful statements. We also saw this with his suggestion that corruption is not that bad,” said Hermann.
“Solidarity works with reality and projections from real data.”
According to Hermann, Solidarity has members in almost all key positions in Eskom, whose feedback to the union is that an average of phase 3 and 4 load shedding can be expected for the coming winter.
He believes, however, that there can still be exceptionally higher phases of load shedding. Exceptions will be, for example, if there are four days or more of exceptional cold or exceptional breakdowns.
“Unfortunately, load shedding is expected for the whole year on a daily basis. The system is under great pressure and Eskom is in a state due to lack of government insight, reckless management, loss of skills, corruption and sabotage. So something unforeseen can always happen.”
