Eskom ramping up maintenance efforts ahead of winter
Group CEO Dan Marokane said synchronising new units with the grid is a key component of Eskom's winter strategy, which aims to enhance overall reliability and supply.
A switchboard at Kendal power station. Picture: GCIS
JOHANNESBURG - With winter fast approaching, Eskom is ramping up its maintenance efforts to stabilise the grid and avoid severe power cuts during the colder months.
The power utility's winter plan focuses on completing its maintenance programme, bringing new capacity online, and addressing slippages that have contributed to recent power outages.
The utility, alongside Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, briefed the media on Eskom’s maintenance plans on Saturday following the recent implementation of stage three load shedding.
READ: Load shedding needed to be implemented to protect, replenish reserves - Ramokgopa
Group CEO Dan Marokane said synchronising new units with the grid is a key component of Eskom's winter strategy, which aims to enhance overall reliability and supply.
"It is the combination of these maintained units or units coming out of maintenance and the new capacity that will essentially form the backbone of our entry into the winter period and the winter period plan which we'll announce at the end of March once we've gone through this window."
Morokane also announced that dam levels were improving and that they were expected to reach safer zones.
"We've had to rely on our reserves, and they've carried us quite well. As we speak, the dam levels are improving. We have switched off the diesel generators in Cape Town, in Ankerlech in particular, to allow the recovery of the fuel tanks."
ONGOING MAINTENANCE EFFORTS
Eskom said its main focus now was on clinical finishes as the power utility works to ensure a stable supply of electricity amidst ongoing maintenance efforts.
The utility reported that maintenance, concentrating on returning all units to service and functioning optimally, has been intense.
The utility said it experienced slippages in its maintenance schedules, and some of its big units, including Koeberg, encountered difficulties.
This led to an increase in unplanned capability loss factor, which peaked at 18,000 megawatts and triggered the stage 3 power cuts.
Marokane said, “We saw slippages in the order of about 1,000, 1,500 megawatts that are adding to the unplanned availability.”
Morokane added that as of Saturday morning, Eskom had returned 3,200 megawatts to the grid, with additional units expected to come back online, including Koeberg unit 2, which has been out of service since last Sunday.
He said that Eskom’s priority was to complete its maintenance, ensuring that slippages do not occur and that power plants remain available.