Engineering News Online Audio Articles

Eskom has acknowledged that there will be differentiated tariff impacts for various categories of electricity customers following the regulator's approval of a new retail tariff plan (RTP) for implementation on April 1, alongside the 12.74% tariff increase approved for the 2025/26 financial year.

Eskom regulation GM Hasha Tlhotlhalemaje describes the restructuring associated with the RTP as a necessary "shock", as it begins aligning Eskom's tariff structure with underlying system costs and changes to the electricity supply industry, while removing unintended cross-subsidies.

"It is a shock to the system but it needs to happen," Tlhotlhalemaje adds, noting that Eskom has been seeking to change its tariff structure for several years to ensure long-term sustainability.

The RTP approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) in February unbundles the energy charges into variable time-of-use charges, and fixed charges that are made up of a generation capacity charge and a so-called legacy charge to recover costs from the renewables programme.

The regulator also approved the Eskom Retail Tariff and Structural Adjustment in March, giving effect to the tariff increase of 12.74% for Eskom direct customers and 11.32% for municipalities on April 1, with the difference taking account of the fact that rates to municipal customers rise only on July 1.

Nersa has also stipulated that the generation capacity charge be phased in over a number of years.

A 20% phase-in has been approved for 2025/26, followed by 30% for each of the subsequent two years, implying that the phasing in will continue into the next tariff cycle, which will begin on April 1, 2028.

For direct Eskom residential customers, the unpopular inclining block tariff, where the cost per unit increased as consumption rose during a month, has been removed for prepayment customers on the Homelight and Homepower tariffs, while a fixed charge will be phased in for Homepower and Homeflex customers.

Eskom is also shepherding households with rooftop PV systems towards its Homeflex arrangement, where homeowners will be expected to register their system and invest in a new smart meter in order to benefits from net-billing credits.

Through the RTP, Eskom has rationalised its municipal tariff offering from 15 to three main categories known as Municflex for large power users and Municrate for smaller users, while sustaining its Public Lighting category.

Service charges will also be levied against the number of points of delivery, while the affordability subsidy credit has been removed for customers wheeling energy.

Senior manager for electricity pricing Terry Njuguna describes the new structure as fairer, more transparent and simplified but says that, while some customers will received immediate benefits, others will face higher charges.

Some of the potential negative impacts have been quantified by electricity commentator Chris Yelland, who is EE Business Intelligence MD and also energy advisor to the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse.

He cautions that the changes could have serious and unfair consequences for poorer households, while also discriminating against households with PV systems.

Describing some of the adjustments as "anti-poor", Yelland has calculated that the poorest households, which consume less than 450 kWh month, face the steepest hikes, while higher consuming households could enjoy a decrease.

"The inclined block tariffs effectively were a way of providing lower, or subsidised, prices to smaller customers (0 to 350 kWh/month and 0-600 kWh per month).

"So doing away with the inclined block tariff reduces the subsidy and pushes up price increases for the poor (small customers), while reducing prices for the rich (larger customers)," Yelland explains.

In addition, the fixed component of the Homepower 4 80A tariff more than doubles from R193 a month to R484 a month, which he says impacts poorer customers with low consumption much more than richer customers with h...

In the spirit of "engineering the future we want" Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) president David Leukes opened this year's CESA Infrastructure Indaba by emphasising the importance of sustainable infrastructure development through smart, resilient and equitable solutions.

He encouraged industry participants at the event to remain mindful of a lifecycle integrated approach to building projects that considers design, construction, maintenance and repurposing, particularly as government has allocated R1-trillion to be spent on infrastructure over the next three years.

Leukes also stressed the importance of collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including engineers, policymakers and communities to ensure inclusive and fit-for-purpose infrastructure delivery.

He also expressed the hope for greater investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education to ensure an adequately skilled next-generation workforce, as well as more ethical leadership and transparency in procurement systems to eliminate corruption and foster innovation.

Leukes further called for enhanced project oversight mechanisms in the construction sector, particularly in the public sector, to maintain high standards of quality and accountability, as well as to eliminate criminality and inefficiency.

Reflecting on the progress that the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has made over the past ten months since the formation of the Government of National Unity, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson noted a significant achievement as having been the release of 31 State-owned properties, valued at R1.4-billion, for private sector participation through requests for proposals.

He expected the endeavour to generate R4-billion in private sector investment and create more than 40 000 new jobs, while making economic use of what would otherwise be neglected or abandoned properties.

The DPWI planned to release the second version of the Construction Book, which contains details about infrastructure plans, in May.

Macpherson said the department has been hard at work to harmonise infrastructure development across the three spheres of government, especially to unlock economic potential through public-private partnerships.

One of his personal ambitions is to make South Africa an attractive professional environment to retain local talent. He cited an example of a South Africa company with hundreds of engineers that are now focused on projects in the Middle East instead of South Africa. He said he would like to see the company's focus return to South African projects.

In addition to national government's R1-trillion allocation for infrastructure over the next three years, the DPWI aimed to attract R100-billion in infrastructure investment over the next four years.

This work will be driven through Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), which is helping various stakeholders, including municipalities, to coordinate, plan and prepare projects. Notably, R180-million had been allocated through the department's Project Preparation Financing Initiative to this end; the department also established a special project delivery unit to expedite infrastructure projects.

The DPWI has also been focused on eliminating unethical practices under Macpherson's leadership, including through a skills audit to determine the merit of individuals in senior positions and to bring stability. The Minister assured that unethical practices were no longer tolerated in the department and those involved would be barred from working at the DPWI ever again.

Macpherson lauded the efforts of National Treasury and the South African Police Service to reduce construction stoppages, saying that there has been a noticeable decline in construction mafia activity across the country. The DPWI has also been obtaining eviction orders to prevent unlawful property occupation.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT CRISIS

Macpherson highlighted a particular problem in South Africa's constructio...

Demand for electricity in South Africa continued to trend down in 2024, a new Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) report confirms.

It shows that peak demand was a per cent lower year-on-year at 33.5 GW (33.9 GW), while energy demand was three per cent lower at 219.6 TWh (225.9 TWh).

The fall is attributed to the rapid growth of private sector embedded generation, much of which had arisen in the form of solar PV installations by businesses and households.

Eskom estimated that there was more than 6 GW of privately owned solar PV installed by September last year, with installations having surged during the country's loadshedding crisis, which peaked in 2023.

The CSIR's 'Utility-scale power generation statistics in South Africa' report does not currently track output from embedded generators, but CSIR Energy Centre head Dr Thabo Hlalele says the development is reflected in the fall in the residual load.

The report also highlights the simultaneous steep rise in electricity tariffs, however, which had increased by 190% in the ten-year period since 2014.

"The national average price of electricity increased annually by an average of about 11% over the last ten years compared to the annual average inflation rate of about 5%."

Once the 12.74% hike approved for 2025/26 is implemented on April 1, the average tariff will be 195.93c/kWh, compared with 117.50c/kWh recorded ten years ago when measured in 2024 rand terms.

"[This] is much higher than the cost of the latest variable generation resources which range between 50c/kWh and 60c/kWh for solar PV and wind," the report notes.

The steep rise is even more pronounced when compared with the 49.70c/kWh of 2000, again in 2024 rand terms.

SHARP FALL IN LOADSHEDDING

The decline in demand, together with improvements in Eskom's fleet performance, led to a sharp decrease in loadshedding last year to 1 656 hours, from 6 948 hours in 2023.

Implemented across 69 days, compared with 290 days in the prior year, a total of 4 126 GWh of energy was shed, again representing a sharp fall from the 24 869 GWh shed in 2024 and the 11 529 GWh shed in 2022.

CSIR estimates the cost of loadshedding in 2024 at R481-billion as compared with R2.9-trillion in 2024.

Hlalele reports that the Eskom fleet's energy availability factor (EAF) achieved an average of 60% last year, compared with 55% in the prior year, as a result of reduced unplanned outages.

This, in turn, led to a 48% reduction in the amount of electricity produced from the expensive diesel-fuelled open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs), which together generated 1.9 TWh last year compared with 3.6 TWh in 2023.

The capacity factor of the OCGT power stations fell to 6.2% last year, having risen to 12% in 2023.

The capacity factor of the coal fleet was 50% (47.4%), but nuclear slumped to only 47.7% (49.9%), reflecting prolonged outages of the Koeberg units during the year.

The newly established Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) has confirmed that it received 98 applications for slots being made available across the network to private train operating companies (TOCs) by the February 28 submission deadline.

The applications were opened to third-party operators following the approval of a Network Statement in December outlining the condition of the network and its capacity to accommodate TOCs.

The statement identified the initial slots across five corridors that would be made available to third parties and also included tariff rates for accessing the network based on a two-part tariff methodology, with one based on train kilometres and the other on gross-train kilometres.

The statement was updated on February 4 to cover the full network, which is assumed to have a current yearly capacity of 209-million tons, and to integrate black economic-empowerment criteria.

This resulted in an extension to the initial deadline for submission, from February 7 to February 28.

In parallel, the TRIM submitted a proposal to the Interim Rail Economic Regulatory Capacity (IRERC) for new, far higher tariffs for 2025/26 financial year, which begins on April 1.

The new tariffs would be applicable to successful applicants that submitted a bid by February 28, as the evaluation of their applications would be completed only at the end of April and any contracts were only likely to be concluded in May at the earliest.

The IRERC is expected to make a tariff determination by the end of March, but there is concern that the viability of many applications, especially those based on smaller train sizes, will be negatively affected should TRIM be awarded the increases it is seeking in its tariff proposal.

For instance, should TRIM's preferred option be approved, tariffs for railing automobiles would rise by 300% from R30 per train kilometre currently to R120, or from 4.41c to 26c when measured on a gross-train kilometre basis.

Similarly steep hikes are being sought for containers, mineral exports not linked to the coal or iron-ore corridors, grain, and tankers and other general freight.

Speaking at an event hosted by Investec, TRIM CEO Moshe Motlohi underlined his commitment to the opening of the network to private-sector participation and to working within the tariff envelope approved by IRERC.

However, cost-reflective tariffs, subsidy support and/or private investment would also be needed to fund the investment backlogs that were afflicting the network.

He also stressed that the reforms under way to open the rail network to private operators was at an early stage and stressed that there would be an ongoing allocation of slots to TOCs in line with the objective of raising freight rail volumes to 250-million tons by 2030.

The next version of the Network Statement would be published in April and the applications for slots would be opened yet again from April 1 to June 30.

Motlohi also committed to TRIM running a fair and transparent process that he promised would not be influenced by the fact that Transnet owned both the TRIM and the Transnet Freight Rail Operating Company, which had previously monopolised the network and which was set to remain the dominant operator for years to come.

"Our orientation at TRIM is that South Africa has to come first, followed by customers, then Transnet.

"It's not going to be about us [Transnet] first, and everything else falling to pieces."

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's tabling of his much-anticipated Budget after the unprecedented postponement on February 19; how the March 12 Budget differed from the one not tabled in February; the response by other parties in

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tabled his delayed Budget on Wednesday that included lower, yet still controversial, increases to the value added tax (VAT) rate, as he sought to hold the fiscal-consolidation line amid rising spending pressures.

The new proposal involves increasing the VAT rate by 0.5 percentage points in 2025/26 to 15.5% and by 0.5 percentage points in 2026/27 to 16%, rather than the immediate two percentage point hike to 17% proposed in the aborted Budget of February 19.

The increases have been coupled to other tax adjustments to help close the revenue shortfall, as well as drawdowns against the contingency reserve that are higher than those outlined in the aborted February 19 Budget.

The other tax measures included no inflationary adjustment to personal income tax (PIT) brackets, rebates and medical tax credits, as well as above-inflation increases in excise duties on alcohol and tobacco products.

These tax proposals would raise R28-billion in additional revenue in 2025/26, R44-billion next year and R46-billion in 2027/28, with the VAT increases expected to contribute R13.5-billion this year, and R19.8-billion and R31.5-billion respectively in the two outer years.

This would be partially offset by about R2-billion yearly as a result of an increase in the basket of zero-rated items, which will be implemented in an effort to mitigate the impact on poor households.

The decision not to make inflationary adjustments to PIT brackets and medical aid tax credits, meanwhile, would yield R19.5-billion in 2025/26 and would have a carry-through effect of R20.6-billion and R21.9-billion in the two outer years.

The above-inflation increases in excise duties on alcohol and tobacco products would yield more than R1-billion a year in additional revenue, but indirect taxes would be decreased over the period by more than R4-billion yearly as a result of a decision not to increase the general fuel levy.

Overall, gross tax revenue would increase from R1.98-trillion to above R2-trillion in 2025/26 as a result of the tax measures announced. In addition, the National Treasury revised the expected tax revenue shortfall for 2024/25 to R16.7-billion from the R19-billion signalled previously.

Nevertheless, the R28-billion additional revenue now forecast falls well short of R58-billion that would have been raised by Godongwana's initial proposal to hike the VAT rate to 17%.

DA REJECTS BUDGET

That proposal seriously divided the Government of National Unity (GNU) Cabinet, however, precipitating the unprecedented decision to postpone its tabling from February 19 to March 12.

The revised and lowered VAT hike remains unpopular, and it became apparent ahead of its tabling that it would still be opposed even by members of the GNU, while some non-GNU parties and civil society groups have indicated that they could pursue protest action.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), a key GNU member that had strongly opposed the initial VAT hike proposal, still opposes the Budget in its current form.

In a statement, the DA said its rejection arose because the African National Congress (ANC) had refused to accept the DA's conditions for supporting the Budget, which would be premised on any tax increases being temporary and that they be coupled to major reforms.

"The ANC VAT Budget doesn't have a majority, and the DA won't give it one," the DA said in a statement.

However, DA leader John Steenhuisen had left the door open for reaching an agreement before Parliament voted on the Budget.

In an earlier media briefing Godongwana indicated that the DA might agree to the two 0.5 percentage-points hikes, with conditions, but noted that not all of these related directly to the Budget process.

There is also growing pressure on government to introduce savings, but the National Treasury said it was difficult for the size and permanency of possible savings to be immediately quantified and implemented.

SPENDING REVIEW

However, 240 spending reviews had been undertaken by t...

President Cyril Ramaphosa insists that his government intends following through on sending envoys to the US as announced during his State of the Nation Address but that it will do so once it has crafted a "transaction" that could find favour with President Donald Trump's administration.

Speaking during a session in Parliament to reply to questions from lawmakers, and specifically in response to a supplementary question posed by ActionSA MP Athol Trollip whether his envoys had not been beaten to it by "self-appointed envoys" in the form of AfriForum and Solidarity, Ramaphosa said: "No, we have not been beaten to it. We've been in very good preparation."

He added: "The counsel that we got, which is very useful counsel from a number of quarters, is, yes, the United States is now in a milieu of being very transactional.

"They would like to see what transaction can be crafted with any country that they interact with.

"That process is under way through our various departments, and, in time, I will be able to send the envoys that should go, and they will be going under the rubric of advancing our foreign policy."

Ramaphosa provided no insight into the nature of the transaction, but it is understood that South Africa's critical minerals and America's liquefied natural gas have been tabled as possible areas of interest.

The President insisted, too, that foreign policy remained the preserve of the executive.

"Other people who go hither and thither in the end do not represent South Africa," he said.

Nevertheless, he expressed disappointment at the delegation sent by AfriForum and Solidarity after which Trump used his social media platform to offer a "rapid pathway to citizenship" for any South African farmer and their family "seeking to flee that country for reasons of safety".

Trump had previously offered refugee status specifically to Afrikaans farmers, alleging, without evidence, that their land was being taken away as a result of a newly enforced Expropriation Act.

While Ramaphosa was speaking, the US Embassy posted the following on X: "US Refugee Admissions for Afrikaners Under E.O. 14204, the US is considering refugee resettlement for disfavored ethnic minority Afrikaners facing unjust racial discrimination in South Africa", with a link to a Website providing more information.

Trump's administration has also withdrawn some $8-billion in yearly funding to combat HIV/Aids in South Africa and has also exited the Just Energy Transition Partnership, to which it had pledged some $1.5-billion.

There is also growing speculation that South Africa is likely to lose its preferential market access to the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

Ramaphosa described AfriForum and Solidarity's disinformation campaign as unpatriotic, adding that they had "instigated" the actions now being taken by the US government.

"When you are a patriot of a country, the best [way] to resolve problems or issues you have is in-country, rather than begin to damage the sovereignty of your country by running off to other countries and expecting them to take action against your own country," he said.

The President did not go as far as to describe these actions as treasonous, saying only that an allegation of treason was a matter for the law enforcement agencies to investigate.

"But I take a dim view, in fact a very negative view, of what has ensued.

"They run around the world, badmouthing their own country and putting their country into disrepute, not by things that are happening but by misinformation," he added, decrying their statements as racist and divisive.

He also stressed that South Africa would continue to advance its international diplomatic and economic interests through various activities and forums, including an upcoming summit with the EU in South Africa, the African Union and the G20.

"What we seek to do is to advance our own country's interests.

"And what we also seek to do is to be seen as a partner of equal value, a sovereign country, a c...

Equipment revival at South African port terminals underpinning move from stabilisation to recovery

Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) CEO Jabu Mdaki believes the steady flow of new equipment, together with improved relations with key original equipment and part suppliers as well as shipping lines, has resulted in a stabilisation of operations at terminals that faced unprecedented and costly congestion little over a year ago. At one stage, the vessel backlog at the Durban Container Terminal's (DCT's) Pier 2, the country's biggest and busiest container terminal, stood at 20 and at the start of 2024 the prognosis for recovery looked bleak. The associated congestion costs were significant, with the South African Association of Freight Forwarders estimating them to be at least R124-million a day.

Next story,

TNPA seeks bids for 25-year multipurpose terminal concession at Durban's Maydon Wharf

South Africa's Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has initiated a process to appoint a private operator for the multipurpose terminal at the Port of Durban's Maydon Wharf precinct. A request for proposals (RFP) has been issued for companies to bid to design, develop, fund, construct, operate, and maintain the terminal for a 25-year concession period before transferring it back to the State-owned group.

In other news,

Saudi's Zahid to reopen talks with Barloworld's shareholders

Saudi Arabia's Zahid Group will start fresh negotiations with the shareholders of South Africa's Barloworld, after an initial acquisition offer was rejected. The consortium led by Zahid will seek to buy as many shares as possible so that its stake exceeds 50% in the distributor of Caterpillar Inc.'s equipment in Africa, Zahid's head of investments, Augostino Sfeir, said in an interview. Zahid, which owns 19% of Barloworld, failed to get shareholder approval to acquire all the shares in the South African company, triggering a standby offer.

Also making headlines,

SPONSORED POST

John Deere introduces eco-conscious 944 X-Tier wheel loader to Africa

Agricultural, construction and forestry equipment supplier John Deere has unveiled its latest advancement in heavy machinery for the African market: the 944 X-Tier wheel loader, which not only promises enhanced productivity but also underscores a significant commitment to environmental sustainability. link

Next story,

SPONSORED POST

Join the conversation on fixing fragile infrastructure, securing SA's water future

South Africa's water crisis is deepening, with aging infrastructure, financial challenges, and governance issues threatening supply to businesses and communities. How can we fix crumbling water systems, improve local water board performance, and accelerate public-private partnerships to ensure a sustainable future? Creamer Media Webinars invites you to an essential discussion on March 26 at 14:00, featuring an expert panel: link

In other news,

Upcoming Budget speech has to grapple with rapidly changing geopolitical context, Mavuso says

Rapid changes in global geopolitics mean that this week's Budget speech will takes place in an entirely different context, Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busisiwe Mavuso said in her weekly newsletter on March 10. The Budget speech, which was meant to be delivered on February 19, was postponed at the last minute owing to a contested value-added tax (VAT) hike.

Also making headlines,

Ramaphosa calls for agri growth agenda biased toward empowering black farmers

While agriculture has been a mainstay of growth in South Africa's economy over the last three decades, the industry cannot be sustainable without addressing issues of equity and inclusion in farming and land ownership, says President Cyril Ramaphosa in his latest weekly newsletter. He says transformation remains a challenge in agriculture, citing research by agriculture economist Wandile Sihlobo finding that black farmers only account for 10% of commercial output in the sector.

Next story,

dtic's Digital Business Visa Recom...

Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) CEO Jabu Mdaki believes the steady flow of new equipment, together with improved relations with key original equipment and part suppliers as well as shipping lines, has resulted in a stabilisation of operations at terminals that faced unprecedented and costly congestion little over a year ago.

At one stage, the vessel backlog at the Durban Container Terminal's (DCT's) Pier 2, the country's biggest and busiest container terminal, stood at 20 and at the start of 2024 the prognosis for recovery looked bleak. The associated congestion costs were significant, with the South African Association of Freight Forwarders estimating them to be at least R124-million a day.

While Mdaki admits that risks persist, particularly during periods of inclement weather, he tells Engineering News that he is cautiously optimistic that the 10 000-employee Transnet unit has now moved firmly from stabilisation to recovery.

The next step, which is still some way off, is to consistently increase volumes and steadily transition the terminals to operating levels that are more in line with global best practice.

At DCT Pier 2, the immediate goal is to raise yearly volumes from about 1.6-million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to about 1.75-million TEUs, against a nameplate of about 2-million TEUs.

To do so, gross crane moves an hour, which currently stand at between 18 and 20, will have to increase to 25 in the near term, with a TPT-wide target of 30 gross crane moves an hour having been formally set for 2030.

Hopes for achieving such efficiencies at DCT Pier 2 were initially pinned on the conclusion of a 25-year joint venture with International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI), of the Philippines, which was selected as the terminal's preferred bidder in July 2023.

However, APM Terminals, the port operating company for AP Moller-Maersk and a rival bidder for DCT, is legally contesting Transnet's selection of ICTSI and the matter is yet to be resolved.

Mdaki says it, thus, became crucial for TPT to ramp up its investment so as to halt DCT's decline and begin recovering the performance at both Pier 2 and the smaller Pier 1, which together handle about 60% of South Africa's container volumes.

INVESTMENT PUSH

For this reason, the lion's share of TPT's five-year, R21-billion investment budget is being directed towards an equipment overhaul at DCT, initially of the landside equipment but progressively of the marine-facing equipment too.

An outward sign of the progress being made was on display in late February, when DCT started taking delivery of the more than 100 pieces of new cargo-handling equipment that is scheduled to be supplied during the 2025 calendar year.

A total of 20 Konecranes straddle carriers will be delivered to Pier 2 by the end of May, with 12 already in hand, while 16 Liebherr rubber-tyred gantry cranes are being delivered to the Pier 1 terminal.

In addition, four Liebherr ship-to-shore cranes, 18 Terberg haulers and 14 Toyota and Konecranes forklifts are scheduled to be delivered to Pier 2 between April and December, while Pier 1 will receive 16 rubber-tyred gantry cranes.

An equipment recapitalisation is also under way at TPT's other container terminals. In Cape Town, eight forklifts and components for the 28 rubber-tyred gantry cranes will be delivered, while at Port Elizabeth, in Gqeberha, a ship-to-shore crane investment is planned.

Investments are also being made at its dry-bulk terminals, such as Richards Bay, which will take delivery of 17 haulers from Terberg. As part of the freight logistics roadmap and government guarantee, TPT is preparing private sector partnership (PSP) tenders for a mega chrome-ore terminal in Richards Bay and a new manganese terminal at the Port of Ngqura.

Over the coming five years, TPT is budgeting to invest about R4-billion yearly across its 16-sea cargo and three inland terminals, where further PSPs are also being considered.

Mdaki tells Engineering News that...

Eskom again resorted to Stage 3 loadshedding on Friday, after a loss of 2 700 MW in 14 hours, including Koeberg Unit 2, which was taken offline on March 2 and was meant to have been returned to service within two days.

Implementation began at 14:00 on Friday March 7 and was scheduled to continue until 5:00 on Monday, March 10, the utility said in a statement.

"This decision comes after a loss of 2 700 MW in the past 14 hours.

"This includes Koeberg Unit 2, which was taken offline after being brought back on Wednesday, and two Kusile units whose coal operations went sub-optimal following adverse weather in the area."

It said the constrained capacity had resulted in the increased reliance on emergency diesel and pumped-hydro reserves during this week, which now had to be replenished over the weekend in preparation for the business week.

"Eskom is focused on deploying extra engineering resources to expedite the repair of units currently offline.

"It is anticipated that 6 200 MW will be restored to service by Monday's evening peak."

The latest bout of rotational power cuts comes only a week-and-a-bit after Eskom took the shock decision to ramp up loadshedding to Stage 6 in the early hours of Sunday, February 23, having initially declared Stage 3 on Saturday February 22.

As with the Stage 6 event, Eskom insisted that this latest round of loadshedding represented a temporary setback, rather than any return to the dark days of 2023 when loadshedding was implemented almost daily, often at high levels.

News that Unit 2 at the Koeberg nuclear plant is again out of service will raise questions, however, given that the unit experienced an "unplanned, non-technical trip while operating at full capacity" on March 2.

Eskom said at the time that the unit had tripped during the execution of work on Unit 1, which is currently offline for work to be conducted as part of its Long-Term Operation programme, and indicated that Unit 2 was expected to be reconnected to the national grid within 48 hours.

Ahead of Eskom's declaration, a graphic from Eskom's data portal was shared showing that Keoberg had not returned as of March 5, while also pointing to the utility's heavy reliance on the diesel-fuelled open-cycle gas turbines during the run-up to the loadshedding announcement.

Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said he would provide a status update on the country's generation performance at midday on Saturday March 8.