Eskom Achieves Over 250 Days Without Load Shedding, Forecasts Loadshedding-Free Summer

In a remarkable achievement for South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, the company has officially surpassed 250 days without load shedding, as of March 26, 2024. This milestone not only highlights Eskom’s strides towards stabilizing the power supply but has also facilitated nearly R17 billion in diesel cost savings year-on-year.

Eskom attributes this success to the diligent implementation of its Generation Recovery Plan which aims at rectifying structural inefficiencies within the coal-fired fleet. This plan is a cornerstone in Eskom's strategy, aimed at bolstering the reliability of its energy supply, which is critical for supporting economic growth and sustainability in the long run.

As the festive December holidays approach, when industrial activities typically wind down, Eskom plans to ramp up its maintenance activities. This proactive approach is anticipated to further enhance the dependability of its generation fleet. Impressively, over the past week, total unplanned outages dropped to 11,038 megawatts (MW), a stark improvement from the 14,475MW recorded last year during the same period.

Further illustrating improvements, Eskom reported an unplanned outage figure of 11,834MW last Friday, which is notably 1,166MW below the expected base case for summer 2024. This indicates a consistent trend of operational efficiency, which is crucial for the utility's performance.

The utility’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF) was at an average of 59.4% over the past week, with a year-to-date average of 62.8%. Notably, power stations such as Majuba, Medupi, and several peaking stations have outperformed, recording an average EAF of 70% and above. Additionally, four other power stations maintained EAFs above 60%.

Looking ahead, Eskom is optimistic about the near-term future of South Africa’s power supply. The utility has announced that an additional 2,600MW is expected to be back online by the end of tomorrow. This aligns with Eskom's Summer Outlook report, which forecasts a loadshedding-free summer from September 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, backed by sustained structural improvements in power generation.

These achievements are pivotal not only for Eskom but also for the entire nation as they pave the way towards a more stable and reliable power supply. It also underscores Eskom’s commitment to incremental but meaningful operational enhancements, which collectively contribute to the broader goals of economic stability and environmental sustainability.