Systems operator Isabel Fick gave an overview of the system's status – which showed that there have been 77 days of load-shedding during the current financial year.

This outpaces that of the previous financial year which totalled 65 days of load-shedding.

Fick says that for September no days of load-shedding are expected.

"We are not expecting any days of load-shedding. You will notice that, however, if we do operate in the base case plus 1500 we expect 19 days of stage two load-shedding and the same goes for if we operate with the base case plus 3000 we can expect 27 days of stage 3."

Fick adds that Eskom plans to add new generation capacity over the next 36 months to reduce the risk of load-shedding.

"Over six months we are hoping for about 3500 megawatts and so it continues. In 36 months we are looking at 8000 megawatts to be added to the system.

"This is enabled through its land lease agreement with independent power producers, emergency procurement measures and imports from the region to be implemented over the next 12 months as part of energy crisis interventions. 

"The recovery of unit 4 at Medupi, damaged by an explosion, is due in August 2024, and will also help bolster capacity.

"We are retiring the coal fleet up to the year 2035, that means that the network will become more unstable so there are other products that we will need, like storage but not battery storage because it is a short-term solution."

Jacaranda News