Key takeaways:
- Eskom says seven provinces are now free from load reduction
- Year-to-date Energy Availability Factor reached 67.87%, the highest level since 2020
- Diesel expenditure fell 82.38% year-on-year
South Africa’s state utility firm, Eskom, has revealed that seven of South Africa’s provinces are now completely free of load reduction, with the Eastern Cape becoming the latest province to be cleared of the measure.
Eskom said in a press statement on Sunday that the Eastern Cape had joined six other provinces that no longer require load reduction, as improvements in its generation fleet continue to strengthen electricity supply across the country.
The state-owned power utility said work was continuing in the remaining areas as it moves toward ending load reduction nationwide. The improvement comes as Eskom records stronger generation performance and returns more capacity to the national grid.
“Seven provinces are now free from load reduction, with the Eastern Cape becoming the latest success story,” Eskom said. “While work continues in the remaining areas, this achievement marks a significant step towards eradicating load reduction.”
Eskom returns more generation capacity
Eskom said 6,873 megawatts of additional generation capacity had been returned to the grid compared with three years ago.
The improvement in available generation has helped reduce pressure on the electricity system and strengthen the reliability of supply. The utility said the gains reflect sustained improvements across its generation fleet.
Load reduction is used in parts of South Africa where electricity infrastructure cannot safely meet demand. It differs from load shedding, which is implemented when there is insufficient generation capacity to meet national electricity demand.
Eskom’s latest figures indicate that improvements in generation performance are reducing the need for additional pressure on the distribution network.
The utility said the gains were also helping to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs while supporting economic activity.
Diesel expenditure drops sharply
In addition, Eskom said its diesel expenditure fell by 82.38% year-on-year between April 1 and Aug. 27, saving the utility R4.89 billion.
Diesel spending declined from R5.93 billion to R1.04 billion during the period. At the same time, Eskom reduced its reliance on Open-Cycle Gas Turbines, with their use falling from 8.27% to 1.10%.
The decline in diesel use reflects the improved performance of Eskom’s generation fleet. Open-Cycle Gas Turbines can be used to provide additional electricity during periods of high demand or when other generation capacity is unavailable, but they are expensive to operate because they rely heavily on fuel.
Eskom said the lower diesel expenditure was part of broader gains in the performance of its power stations.
“These gains reflect sustained improvements across Eskom’s generation fleet,” the utility said, adding that the improvements were helping to deliver a “more reliable, efficient and resilient electricity supply.”
The utility said the reduction in operating costs would also support South Africa’s economic growth as the country works to improve the reliability of its electricity system.
The latest improvement follows years of pressure on Eskom’s generation fleet, which has contributed to electricity shortages, load shedding and higher operating costs. The utility is now seeking to improve plant availability while reducing its dependence on expensive emergency generation.
Eskom said work would continue in the provinces still affected by load reduction as it pursues the broader goal of eliminating the practice across South Africa.
