Power utility Eskom has given its latest load shedding update, laying out the expected schedule through to Wednesday (2 November).
Stage 2 load shedding will be implemented from 05h00 on Monday until 05h00 on Tuesday. Stage 2 load shedding will then be implemented during the evening peaks from 16h00 until midnight on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
Monday, 31 October
- Stage 2 – 05h00 to 00h00
Tuesday, 1 November
- Stage 2 – 00h00 to 05h00
- Stage 2 – 16h00 to 00h00
Wednesday, 2 November
- Stage 2 – 16h00 to 00h00
Eskom will publish a further update on Wednesday afternoon, or as soon as there are any significant changes.
Since yesterday afternoon, a unit each at Tutuka and Matimba power stations were taken offline for repairs. A unit each at Kendal, Kusile, Matla and Tutuka power stations were returned to service.
The group currently has 4,886MW on planned maintenance, while another 13,792MW of capacity is unavailable due to breakdowns.
Eskom Update: what Treasury wants from Eskom and South Africa secures funding for renewables
Although the full quantum of the debt takeover by the National Treasury is not yet known, Godongwana said it would be between one- to two-thirds of total debt, giving a range of R130 billion to R260 billion.
Treasury head of asset and liability management Duncan Pieterse says that Eskom would be required to sell off its noncore assets and make operational improvements if the government assumes part of its R400 billion debt. However, Pieterse added that the Treasury had not yet finalised the conditions to be attached to the Eskom debt takeover.
Amid these debt takeover formalities, South Africa has secured $500 million (R9 billion) to aid its just transition from coal to renewables. The Climate Investment Funds – a multilateral climate fund affiliated with the World Bank – had approved the funding.
According to a statement from the CIF, “The decision intends to equip the country with concessional, risk-bearing capital from CIF’s Accelerating Coal Transition (CIF ACT) investment programme to build momentum toward ambitious climate, energy, and development goals”.
Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Barbara Creecy welcomed the CIF’s decision, adding that estimates indicate South Africa needs over R1 trillion in investments to support its energy transition over the next eight years.
“The CIF ACT finance will make a meaningful contribution towards South Africa walking down the ambitious pathway to a brighter future for our people, addressing our energy needs, promoting sustainable development, and leaving no one behind,” said Creecy.
Schedules
For people living in the major metros, load shedding schedules are available here:
For access to other load shedding schedules, Eskom has made them available on loadshedding.eskom.co.za.
Smartphone users can also download the app EskomSePush to receive push notifications when load shedding is implemented, as well as the times the area you are in will be off.
Read: Billions pile up for Ramaphosa’s move away from coal in South Africa
