Newcastillians have been gripped by concerns over the possibility of a catastrophic blackout. However, Eskom has come forward to address these fears. The company asserted that there is no imminent danger of a total collapse.
Responding to the growing momentum of anxiety, Eskom noted the various social media posts propagating these claims.
In an official statement, the company firmly refuted the allegations and sought to reassure South Africans that measures have been implemented. These are all to prevent the collapse of the power system, with loadshedding being one of the mechanisms in place.
“While the risk of a national blackout is inherent to the operation of a large power system, the likelihood of it materialising is extremely low,” stated Eskom. The company further highlighted that control measures have been put into effect, including loadshedding.
Eskom emphasised that the power grid is not at an elevated or imminent risk of collapsing. It clarified that a complete loss of power supply would require an unforeseen and sudden sequence of events.
To address such eventualities, Eskom assured the public that robust contingency plans have been established. At the Enlit Africa conference held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, Eskom’s interim GCE, Calib Cassim, reiterated this message. He expressed confidence in the competence of the System Operator’s staff who have effectively managed the tight system for the past three years.
Eskom also affirmed its commitment to driving generation recovery initiatives aimed at preventing further deterioration in the short term. This is while improving the overall performance of the generation fleet in the long term.
The reassurances provided by the power utility seek to quell fears and restore confidence in the stability of the power system.
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