Spectre of loadshedding returns to South Africa

Having escaped using the politically charged word ‘loadshedding’ in recent weeks by requiring big users to reduce consumption when the power system is under particular strain, Eskom was forced to introduce scheduled blackouts for 14 hours on 6 March. The incident came after four 686MW units at the 4,116MW Kendal coal power plant and one unit each at the 4,110MW Majuba and 1,200MW Grootvlei coal power plants were lost due to heavy rain soaking fine coal stocks, putting a total of 3,320MW out of use. The situation was compounded by limited availability of the Drakensberg and Palmiet pumped storage stations. Eskom said loadshedding was enacted from 8am, reducing supply by up to 20%, to prevent a total system collapse.