Eskom has successfully maintained loadshedding suspension for 261 consecutive days, a record attributed to the Generation Recovery Plan implemented in March 2023.
Eskom power update for this weekend: Here’s what you must know
The initiative has resulted in diesel savings of R16.46 billion, marking a 67.7% reduction compared to the R24.32 billion spent during the same period last year.
Unplanned outages averaged 12,499MW over the past week, a notable drop from 13,827MW during the same period in 2023.
Ongoing planned maintenance increased to 7,619MW, in line with Eskom’s summer maintenance strategy to improve station reliability ahead of winter 2025.
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Despite an incident at Matla Power Station, Eskom confirmed there is no evidence of sabotage, and technical assessments are ongoing.
What is the likelihood of loadshedding?
The likelihood of loadshedding remains low. Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF) averaged 57.6% over the past week and 62.7% year-to-date, with top-performing stations like Medupi, Majuba, and Camden achieving EAFs of 70% or more.
Additionally, Eskom has an available generation capacity of 27,369MW to meet the peak demand forecast of 23,967MW for tonight.
By Tuesday evening, Eskom expects 4,020MW to return to service, further enhancing grid stability.
Although temporary increases in the Open-Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) load factor were observed, diesel usage remains below budget, spotlighting Eskom’s capacity to sustain uninterrupted power supply.
