'We're recovering quite well': Eskom CEO gives an update after unexpected weekend loadshedding
Stage 3 loadshedding was implemented on Saturday, which was later escalated to Stage 6 on Sunday, before being reduced back to Stage 4 this morning.
Picture: Xanderleigh Dookey-Makhaza/Eyewitness News.
702's Bongani Bingwa interviews Dan Marokane, Group Chief Executive of Eskom and Chris Yelland, an energy expert.
Listen below:
On Saturday, Eskom announced that after more than 20 days of uninterrupted electricity supply, they faced another temporary setback.
This follows the recovery of all five units at Majuba, two units at Camden, and one unit at Medupi since Saturday, resulting in the restoration of eight out of the 10 generation units that had tripped over the weekend.
As a result, Stage 3 loadshedding was implemented, which was later escalated to Stage 6 on Sunday, before being reduced back to Stage 4 this morning.
Energy expert Chris Yelland says that while a potential issue was anticipated, the "cascading failure" of all units at Majuba Power Station was not foreseen.
He also warns that relying on emergency reserves for operational needs, as was done last week, undermines the purpose of these reserves.
If these resources – such as diesel and water – are depleted, it could lead to the need for additional loadshedding to replenish the reserves, he adds.
"There's a lot of questions still unanswered."
- Chris Yelland, energy expert (02:24)
Eskom CEO Dan Marokane defends the use of emergency reserves, saying that the utility makes of them to address emergencies as they arise.
He emphasises that running these reserves is still more cost-effective than implementing loadshedding.
"They are strategic in nature; they help us ride the storms when those do happen."
- Dan Marokane, Group Chief Executive – Eskom
Marokane adds that Eskom "continues to recover quite well", and water reserves are nearly at the required levels.
He assures that the situation will continue to be closely monitored throughout the day.
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.
CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit spoke to Prof Vally Padayachee, a power and energy expert and the former Executive Manager of Eskom to get his perspective on the situation.
Listen below: