Frequency of load shedding coming down because of aggressive, planned maintenance - Ramokgopa

CAPE TOWN - Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said that the intensity and frequency of load shedding was coming down because of aggressive, planned maintenance.

Ramokgopa also said that renewables like solar won’t end load shedding, but they remained on course to end it through various interventions.

The minister was briefing the media on the implementation of the energy action plan and the country’s energy security.

Ramakgopa also told Parliament that there had been 600 fewer hours of load shedding from December to February this year compared to the same period last year.

It’s been 13 days since Eskom implemented any load shedding, the longest stretch in 2024 without any power cuts.

Minister Ramokgopa said this was a result of various interventions.

He said stage one to stage two accounted for half of what we experienced this year as compared to stages four and five last year.

"So what is the message that we are conveying here? It’s that the intensity of load shedding is coming down and that’s the point I make all the time. It’s just a general appreciation on the trendline."

He also said that weather conditions defined how effective renewables are.

"And that’s why I’m saying that it’s a misnomer to talk of renewables saving us from load shedding, it's a combination of that."

Ramokgopa added that in the next five months, the country would see over 2,500MW of new generation coming on line.