Eskom Declares stage 4 load-shedding

South Africans are facing unwelcome news as Eskom announces the initiation of Stage 4 load shedding. In a statement issued early Wednesday on X (previously known as Twitter), the power utility attributed the decision to "inadequate emergency reserves."

"Owing to insufficient emergency reserves and generation capacity, resulting from four units failing to return to service as scheduled, Stage 4 load shedding was enforced this morning

at 2:31 am until further notice," declared Eskom. The utility assured that it would closely

monitor the system and provide updates if any significant changes occurred. This Stage 4

implementation follows Eskom's imposition of Stage 2 load shedding for a duration of seven hours on Tuesday, prompted by the "imminent forced shutdown of two generating units."

Subsequently, Stage 3 load shedding was enforced from 4 pm until 5 am on Wednesday. The recent revelation of load shedding may come as a surprise, considering Eskom's earlier announcement of the successful replacement of steam generators on Koeberg's Unit 1.

However, synchronization with the grid is anticipated only by the month's end.

Despite the completion of Unit 1's commissioning, doubts linger about addressing current

load-shedding challenges, as the scheduled replacement of the three steam generators on

Unit 2 awaits. Eskom acknowledged that the replacement of steam generators was a

prerequisite identified in the license application for the long-term operation of Koeberg. This application, submitted to the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), emphasized the necessity of ensuring the station's safe operation beyond its original licensed period of 40 years, extending beyond 2024.