According to Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the intensity of load shedding is decreasing.
On Sunday, Ramokgopa provided an update on the implementation of the Energy Action Plan (EAP), as the country continues to experience widespread rolling blackouts.
Ramokgopa stated that the country is making headway in limiting the deliberate power outages.
“We have responded to the intensity of load shedding, it’s coming down. The number of days that we’ve experienced load shedding is exceptionally high and we are on course for a record number of those days.
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“But these briefings are really important to show you what the trend line is and we are confident that we’ll get out of a very difficult situation… We remain confident in our ability to resolve the load shedding question,” Ramokgopa said.
Ramokgopa also stated that a number of power station units are expected to come back online, easing load shedding.
“I did indicate Tutuka an opportunity, the units that are going to come in at Kusile and the continuation of the improvements in various aspect of the other power stations. Cumulative we will see that the energy availability factor will continue to go up and we will come out of this situation.”
Earlier this week, Ramokgopa encouraged South Africa not to celebrate the signing of a memorandum of collaboration between the government and eight Chinese energy corporations as a return to normalcy.
The agreement announced on Wednesday, August 23, has been hailed as a watershed moment in the drive to stop power outages, with an extra 9 000 megawatts scheduled to be added to the grid by December.
Ramokgopa refused to specify a date, claiming that more effort was needed to end power outages.
He stated that removing power outages meant “having electricity on a 24-hour basis.”
State Grid Corporation of China chair Baoan Xin described the signing as “quite significant in addressing the power crisis in South Africa”.
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“This marks a new chapter of our collaboration and we are ready to work with yourselves in carrying out the terms of agreements signed by our respective state leaders,” he said.
Meanwhile, Eskom has suspended load shedding until 4pm on Sunday afternoon due to lower electricity demand.
The embattled power utility said stage 3 load shedding will then be implemented from 4pm on Sunday, until Monday morning.
