ESKOM has warned of a "very high" risk of rolling blackouts around the country, but was doing everything it could to avert it.
"We are working very closely with our large customers to see if they can reduce their load," spokeswoman Hilary Joffe said yesterday.
Power outages were a possibility because of planned maintenance, an increase in unplanned maintenance and an increasing demand for power.
"Summer is always a time when we do maintenance and take advantage of lower demand. The maintenance is more this year than previous years as we are tackling a backlog."
She urged people to find ways to reduce their electricity usage.
The Cape Chamber of Commerce yesterday said that while it appreciated the notice given by Eskom, the possibility of rolling blackouts was unacceptable.
"Eskom advised us shortly after noon today (yesterday) that there was a possibility of load-shedding in various parts of the country, including the Western Cape, from tonight and lasting through to February," chamber president Michael Bagraim said.
"Basic scenario planning should be in place. For the country's power supply to possibly be prejudiced in this way, at this time, and this economic climate is not acceptable."
Bagraim said the government kept demanding that businesses increased jobs, but this was only possible if they could operate in the first place.
Joffe warned the country's power supply would be tight until the completion of its two power stations, Medupi and Kusile. Kusile, being built in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga, was expected to add 4800 megawatts to the power grid on completion in 2017.
The Medupi power station in Lephalale, Limpopo, would add another 4800 megawatts of coal-powered energy. It was expected to be completed by 2015, although Eskom had warned there could be a delay due to problems with a boiler contractor.
Meanwhile, the AIM news agency has reported that South Africa has asked Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa, the company that operates the Cahora Bassa dam on the Zambezi river in western Mozambique, to increase its power supply quota. Zimbabwe has also asked for its quota to be increased. Zambia, Malawi and Swaziland had all expressed a desire to buy electricity from HCB.
Mozambique's publicly owned electricity company Electricidade de Moçambique meanwhile had asked for its quota to be increased from 400 to 500 megawatts.
HCB chairman Paulo Muxanga was quoted by AIM as saying that increasing EDM's quota would mean negotiating with one of HCB's other major clients, such as Eskom or Zimbabwe's Zesa, to reduce their quota.
The Cahora Bassa dam's maximum generating capacity is 2075 megawatts - five turbines, each capable of producing 415 megawatts.
Brace yourself for possible blackouts - Eskom
ESKOM has warned of a "very high" risk of rolling blackouts around the country, but was doing everything it could to avert it.
"We are working very closely with our large customers to see if they can reduce their load," spokeswoman Hilary Joffe said yesterday.
Power outages were a possibility because of planned maintenance, an increase in unplanned maintenance and an increasing demand for power.
"Summer is always a time when we do maintenance and take advantage of lower demand. The maintenance is more this year than previous years as we are tackling a backlog."
She urged people to find ways to reduce their electricity usage.
The Cape Chamber of Commerce yesterday said that while it appreciated the notice given by Eskom, the possibility of rolling blackouts was unacceptable.
"Eskom advised us shortly after noon today (yesterday) that there was a possibility of load-shedding in various parts of the country, including the Western Cape, from tonight and lasting through to February," chamber president Michael Bagraim said.
"Basic scenario planning should be in place. For the country's power supply to possibly be prejudiced in this way, at this time, and this economic climate is not acceptable."
Bagraim said the government kept demanding that businesses increased jobs, but this was only possible if they could operate in the first place.
Joffe warned the country's power supply would be tight until the completion of its two power stations, Medupi and Kusile. Kusile, being built in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga, was expected to add 4800 megawatts to the power grid on completion in 2017.
The Medupi power station in Lephalale, Limpopo, would add another 4800 megawatts of coal-powered energy. It was expected to be completed by 2015, although Eskom had warned there could be a delay due to problems with a boiler contractor.
Meanwhile, the AIM news agency has reported that South Africa has asked Hidroelectrica de Cahora Bassa, the company that operates the Cahora Bassa dam on the Zambezi river in western Mozambique, to increase its power supply quota. Zimbabwe has also asked for its quota to be increased. Zambia, Malawi and Swaziland had all expressed a desire to buy electricity from HCB.
Mozambique's publicly owned electricity company Electricidade de Moçambique meanwhile had asked for its quota to be increased from 400 to 500 megawatts.
HCB chairman Paulo Muxanga was quoted by AIM as saying that increasing EDM's quota would mean negotiating with one of HCB's other major clients, such as Eskom or Zimbabwe's Zesa, to reduce their quota.
The Cahora Bassa dam's maximum generating capacity is 2075 megawatts - five turbines, each capable of producing 415 megawatts.
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