South Africa
The South African state-owned electricity utility will implement power cuts during evening peak on Monday and Tuesday, the CEO Andre de Ruter announced.
Eskom CEO said Monday the return to a typical winter pattern during the evening made it harder for the system to handle the demand. Between 5 pm and 10 pm, South African will therefore have to reduce the usage of electricity and to switch off all non-essential items.
Several power stations not working have contributed to the breakdown. Some were offline due to planned maintenance but the Southern African country experiences a 16,307MW loss in generating capacity due to breakdowns.
Consequently, load shedding will be increased to stage 4, a statement read, adding it would only be implemented as a last resort to protect the national grid.
Load shedding comprises 8 stages and the higher the load shedding stage the more frequently customers experience it. Stage 4 means power cuts could be increased to 4,000 MW.
If the impact will be less pronounced on business owners, the domestic consumers will bear the brunt.
Ongoing electricity disruption threatens to affect South Africa's economy. It is estimated that in 2020 load shedding cost South Africa's economy R500 million per stage, per day.
01:00
Big blow to Zuma as SA top court bars him from running in the next polls
01:51
S.Africa rebukes Israeli arguments at ICJ hearing on Gaza genocide case
01:02
South Africa ends rescue efforts at collapsed building
02:00
WATCH: Pro-Israel protesters rally outside ICJ amid Gaza conflict deliberation
01:25
Pro-Israel demonstrators gather outside genocide hearing at UN court
01:58
S.Africa warns ICC that war in Gaza has reached “a new and horrific stage"