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With Eskom oscillating through multiple stages of load shedding over the weekend, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the man responsible for keeping the lights on, updated the nation on Monday regarding the implementation of the Energy Action Plan.
Ramokgopa asserted that we should not be thrown off by these ups and downs in the stages of load shedding.
"It is important that, in the midst of momentary setbacks, reaching stage 4 or occasionally stage 6, we don't lose sight of the trendline."
The electricity minister said:
Over the last week and the weekend, Eskom has been implementing load shedding with a twist.
Instead of the usual stage 3 during the day (5am until 4pm) and stage 4 taking over until 5am the following day, last week, they implemented stage 2 from 5am until 8pm.
Instead of ramping up by one stage, it would go up by two to stage 4 load shedding from 8pm until 5am.
READ: ANC defends Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, highlights progress in reducing load shedding
"We are transfixed on the resolution of the trendline. We should not be fixated on the energy availability factor; we should just do the right things. That's why there's been a ramping up of planned maintenance," stated Ramokgopa.
He pointed out that the best illustration of the trendline improvement could be seen in the unplanned capacity loss factor.
He said:
"When we entered May, the number of megawatts lost as a result of the partial load losses and the unreliability of these units was averaging 17 369; in December, we had 13 763MW. Comparing December to May, we retrieved around 4 000MW," the minister said.
He mentioned that, in May, they had clawed back around 3 000MW, and added: "I think that gives a measure of where we are."
READ: 'Light at the end of the tunnel as load shedding implemented to save diesel' - Ramokgopa
To answer why we still have load shedding despite improving the unplanned capacity loss factor, Ramokgopa said it boiled down to the fact that, "we use that improvement factor as we take out units for planned maintenance. We are essentially negating the fruits of the unplanned capacity loss factor, using that opportunity to ramp up planned maintenance."
Using May as a baseline again, the minister said that planned maintenance was around 3 000MW; in February; they averaged around 7 000MW. "We are using that recovery to take out more units to fix them."
Ramokgopa said:
Answering the question about the reduction of planned maintenance to ensure no load shedding, Ramokgopa said that eliminating load shedding was a long-term game.
READ: 'Don't get too comfortable' - Ramokgopa warns load shedding respite is only temporary
"Every report looking into how to fix load shedding says they should focus on planned maintenance. We could go for the short term and stop load shedding, but we guarantee that there would be a deterioration of these assets and, in three months' time, there would be a total collapse," he warned.
