Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter confirmed, in Tuesday’s media briefing, that more than likely, South Africa may be plunged into Stage 6 loadshedding on Tuesday.
UPDATE: Eskom confirms Stage 6 rolling blackouts start at 16:00 on Tuesday – 14:31
In a statement that followed De Ruyter’s media briefing, the power utility regretfully announced that rotational blackouts will be implemented between 16:00 and 22:00 on Tuesday evening.
Thereafter, loadshedding will be reduced to Stage 2 until 06:00 on Wednesday, 29 June 2022. Outages will then return to Stage 4 during Wednesday’s business day before South Africa is plunged, yet again, in Stage 6 blackouts.
“This is due to the unlawful and unprotected labour actio, which has caused widespread disruption to Eskom’s power plants. This has compelled Eskom to continue taking precautionary measures to conserve generation capacity and safeguard plant from damage. There is a high risk that the stage of loadshedding may have to change at any time, depending on the state of the plant,” the power utility noted.
Readers from these metros can check the latest loadshedding schedule below:
- City of Johannesburg
- City of Ekurhuleni
- City of Tshwane
- City of Cape Town
- Nelson Mandela Bay
- eThekwini
- Manguang
- Buffalo City
Why will loadshedding be escalated to Stage 6?
On the fourth day of Stage 4 power outages that shed load from the power grid for a cumulative six hours per day, the national power supplier noted that ongoing labour action at a number of power plants has exacerbated an already dire situation.
A large number of Eskom’s power station employees have downed tools since last week Friday in protest over wage demands which De Ruyter blasted as illegal and, most of all, inconsiderate.
The consequence of the significant deterioration of operations at many of the utility’s power stations is a high probability of Stage 6 loadshedding. De Ruyter revealed that as of Tuesday, 28 June 2022:
- 10 operating units went off the grid
- unplanned breakdowns at various plants total 14 204MW;
- the illegal wage strike has contributed to a loss of 3 651MW.
At Stage 6 loadshedding, up to 6 000MW of capacity needs to be shed. To achieve this, Eskom cuts off electricity supply up to 12 times over a four-day period. In most regions, this means no power for six two-hour periods, while in some areas are subject to outages that last four hours, six times a day.
In all likelihood, the state of Eskom’s power stations on Tuesday indicate that loadshedding may need to be escalated to allow the utility more time in the midst of intense negotiations with trade unions.
According to De Ruyter, the power stations currently responsible for the electricity we have access to are:
- Majuba
- Matimba
- Matla – Power plant management encouraged a large stay-away due to ongoing threats and intimidation of staff. One employee’s animal farm was set alight on Monday evening.
- Grootvlei
- Hendrina – Only 20% staff complement on duty. Most operations are manned by managerial staff. There are active acts of intimidation at the plant and a company vehicle was torched.
- Kendall – Peaceful protest is ongoing with only one unit in operation.
- Komati – Peaceful protest is ongoing with only one unit in operation.
- Kusile
- Medupi
- Tutuka
- Koeberg
Further, here is a situation report on the power stations that have been negatively affected by the ongoing wage strike:
- Arnot – Managerial staff are manning the fort in the absence of maintenance workers
- Camden – Eskom cleared blockages to the power plant’s access road on Tuesday morning. Managerial staff are manning the fort.
- Duvha – There are no controllers on site and managerial staff members have been working overtime to keep operations running at limited capacity
- Kriel – There are no plant operators on duty.
- At Lethabo:
- Four plant operators’ homes were petrol-bombed on Monday evening
- 70 maintenance staff members are absent
- There was a meeting taking place outside the plant’s entrance, on Tuesday, and tensions are palpable
- Eskom employees are in fear of their lives and personal possessions due to ongoing intimidation.
While it’s unclear whereabouts Eskom is in negotiations with trade unions, De Ruyter, mummed by a non-disclosure, hinted that a counteroffer has been made, which will be properly discussed at a wage meeting taking place later on Tuesday.
Even if the wage strike ends, the Eskom CEO warned, the impact of the stay-away will be felt for a long time.