In an ideal situation Eskom can supply 39200MW of electricity. But that needs all 10 coal-fired stations to be functioning at full capacity, the Koeberg nuclear station near Cape Town to be running smoothly, the four small gas-powered stations on the south coast spinning unhindered, and 2000MW imported from the Cahorra Bassa hydroelectric scheme in Mozambique flowing smoothly.

In an ideal situation Eskom can supply 39200MW of electricity. But that needs all 10 coal-fired stations to be functioning at full capacity, the Koeberg nuclear station near Cape Town to be running smoothly, the four small gas-powered stations on the south coast spinning unhindered, and 2000MW imported from the Cahorra Bassa hydroelectric scheme in Mozambique flowing smoothly.

That seldom happens.

One of Eskom's biggest headaches right now is the Duvha power station near Witbank. The local coal supply has suddenly hit a seam that generates an extreme amount of ash. The station has had to cut output by between 500MW and 1000MW so its plant can deal with the mountains of ash it's producing. One of the two units at Koeberg has also had to be taken down for maintenance.