Eskom to Boost Capacity by 3,500MW by August, But Load Shedding Remains a Threat – Ramokgopa
Cape Town – Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa announced on Monday that South Africa’s power grid will get a major boost by the end of August, with an additional 3,500MW expected from Eskom’s power plants.
At a media briefing in Pretoria, Ramokgopa explained the expected contributions: “We’re looking at Medupi Unit 4 adding 800MW and Kusile Unit 6 also bringing in 800MW. We’re also hoping Koeberg Unit 3 will extend its life and provide an extra 980MW.” He added that by the end of August, Eskom should contribute an extra 3,500MW to the grid.
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However, Ramokgopa urged caution about celebrating too soon. “I want to stress that load shedding is not over,” he said. “In the next few weeks, Eskom will share its summer outlook. While we are optimistic about these power plants, we shouldn’t assume that load shedding is completely resolved.”
The Minister also mentioned improvements at key power stations like Tutuka, Kendal, and Kriel, where unplanned losses have decreased. He emphasized that ongoing efforts and leadership changes are driving these improvements but warned that the fight against load shedding is still ongoing.