Eskom Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane has assured South Africans that, even under worst-case conditions, load shedding this winter will not go beyond Stage 2.
Speaking during a media briefing on Eskom's winter outlook in Johannesburg on Monday, Marokane said that if the Unplanned Capability Loss Factor (UCLF) remains below 13,000 megawatts, no load shedding is expected. However, should losses climb to between 14,000 and 15,000 megawatts, the country could experience occasional Stage 1 or 2 outages — limited to around 21 days throughout the season.
“We are confident that we can deliver a winter without blackouts. Some of our major generating units are returning to service just in time to strengthen our grid,” said Marokane.
He cited the improved performance of Kusile Unit 6 and the near-completion of Medupi’s commissioning as key contributors to Eskom’s bolstered capacity.
“Kusile Unit 6 has already reached its full output in recent days, and Medupi’s final commissioning is well underway. This additional generation capacity was unavailable last winter, and it significantly improves our outlook,” he added.
Eskom’s leadership says the utility is now better positioned to manage demand and minimise disruptions as colder temperatures set in.