Thread by @JacaNews

[Happening Now] Eskom Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jan Oberholzer is briefing the media on the power utility's state of the system and operational performance.

#Loadshedding

#Loadshedding The company's Group Chief Executive, André de Ruyter who was expected to lead the briefing has sent his apology.

spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha says he is attending the COP26 climate change conference.

#Loadshedding Oberholzer starts by apologising for load-shedding, saying the power utility only implement it when it's necessary.

#Loadshedding Oberholzer says the distribution technical performance is positive in terms of duration and frequency of outages and restoration times.

"We continue to drive for improved transmission system reliability through our transmission sustainability plan,"

#Loadshedding Oberholzer assures that the utility's coal stocks are healthy.

"We have done a lot of preparations to avoid wet coal this coming summer,"

#Loadshedding Oberholzer says unit 1 at Koeberg station has tripped after being online for 75 days.

#Loadshedding Oberholzer says the utility needs an additional 4 000MW to 6 000MW generation capacity to complement the Eskom available capacity.

"This is required to eliminate the risk of load-shedding,"

#Loadshedding Oberholzer says he is aware that load-shedding carries a significant damaging effect to the country's economy.

#Loadshedding Oberholzer: Increasing theft and vandalism of cables and substations continue to negatively impact operations and system reliability.

#Loadshedding On the upcoming local government elections, Oberholzer says Eskom is working with the IEC to make sure electricity will be available from the end of this week until after the voting has taken place.

#Loadshedding Eskom Group Executive for Transmission, Segomoco Scheppers says the majority of the coal power stations are operating past the midway of their operational life, resulting in high levels of breakdowns.

#Loadshedding Scheppers: The drive to implement the reliability maintenance and refurbishment projects in order to address the unreliability is underway.

"The public is cautioned to expect an increased risk of load-shedding,"

#Loadshedding Scheppers presents the system operator capacity outlook for the next 18 months.

#Loadshedding Scheppers says there are possibilities of stage 2 loadshedding for 40 days.

#Loadshedding Eskom Group Executive for Distribution, Monde Bala says discussions are underway with City Power to find a solution.

For now, City Power will implement load shedding on its customers in the City of Johannesburg.

#Loadshedding Answering the question on continuous loadshedding , Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer says the power utility never promised to eliminate loadshedding but the promise was to reduce it.

He says significant progress has been made.