
The breakdown of eight generation units on Sunday has led to Eskom implementing Stage 6 rolling blackouts.
Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha says this will be until further notice.
“Since Sunday afternoon a generating unit each at Arnot, Hendrina, Lethabo and Majuba, as well as two units at Camden Power Station have suffered breakdowns and taken offline for repairs. Further, two generating units at the Lethabo Power Station were shut down due to coal constraints as the New Vaal Mine that is supplying the station has been unable to deliver the expected amount of coal during the past week because of the heavy rains”.
Eskom says the three running units are operating at minimum capacity and are at risk of shutdown should the coal supply constraints not be resolved.
Over the weekend, Eskom escalated the power cuts to Stage 6 from Stage 4.
The ailing power utility is currently without over 21 000 Megawatts of power due to breakdowns.
The City of Cape Town-supplied customers will be on Stage 5.