2021 could be worse as energy expert warns of stage 8 load-shedding
- Stage 2 load-shedding might have been suspended but Ted Blom, an energy expert, does not trust Eskom
- He warned that 2021 might see the return of stage 6 load-shedding or even the introduction of stage 8 load-shedding
- Blom cautioned that Eskom is not always transparent and sometimes sneak higher load-shedding stages during power outages
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Eskom made the welcome announcement that stage 2 load shedding would be suspended on Monday. However, it might be the calm before the storm as Ted Blom, a respected energy expert, warns that stage 8 load-shedding might be on the cards for 2021.
Blom spoke on the Free Marketeers podcast where he warned the Eskom was not always 100% transparent with its load-shedding schedules.
An example he gives is that when advertised as stage 1, Eskom actually implements stage 3 power cuts.
Source: Getty Images
He warned that Eskom might sneak stage 8 load-shedding under the guise of a lower stage.
Eskom has in the past downplayed the amount of energy that is needed to save during load-shedding. He gives an example when when stage 1 load-shedding is implemented, 1 000 MW need to be saved when in fact Eskom is facing a 3 000 MW shortfall.
He said that this actually takes South Africa into stage 5 territory, he warned that SA might experience stage 6 or even stage 8 load-shedding before the end of winter.
Stage 6 blackouts were devastating for the economy when they were implemented in December 2019.
Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that Brian Molefe, the former Eskom boss, didn't hold back on Friday as he accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of being a tool of the mining giant Glencore.
He told the state capture enquiry that Ramaphosa knew what Glencore wanted when it made him the chairperson of Optimum Coal Mine.
However, in a surprising announcement Eskom has announced that load-shedding will be suspended from Monday evening after an improvement in its struggles to power the nation.
In a statement released on Monday evening, Eskom confirmed that generation capacity had improved following the return of some generation units:
"Eskom is pleased to inform the public that load-shedding will be suspended from 23:00 tonight as the generation capacity has improved following the return of some generators to service."
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Source: Briefly News
