Friday, 03 January 2025: Today, Eskom reached 282 consecutive days without implementing loadshedding since 26 March last year, further signalling the structural improvements in Generation performance. This achievement, brought by the investment in the Generation Recovery Plan and enhanced maintenance protocols, has also resulted in year-to-date diesel savings of R16.52 billion.
The plan has recently enabled the successful return of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Unit 2 to the national grid on 30 December 2024. This milestone follows extensive upgrades as part of a comprehensive Long-Term Operation (LTO) programme aimed at extending the unit’s operational lifespan by 20 years. We are currently in the process of ramping up the unit to its full capacity of 930MW, in accordance with operational procedures. We anticipate reaching full load by mid-January 2025, provided each step meets our commissioning procedure. Combined, Units 1 and 2 will supply 1 860MW, providing a reliable and stable baseload supply, playing a pivotal role in reducing loadshedding and stabilising the grid.
Unplanned outages remain on a downward trend at ~8.1% compared to the same period last year. Diesel savings are at R16.52 billion, which is about 65.2% less than the R25.34 billion spent during the same period last year. Diesel usage remains below the year-to-date budget.
In August, Eskom shared its summer outlook for the period from 01 September 2024 to 31 March 2025, predicting a likely scenario of a loadshedding-free summer due to structural generation improvements. This outlook remains unchanged. Our year-to-date unplanned outages average is 11 906MW, which is 1 094MW less than our 2024 summer base case of 13 000MW.
Over the past week, the average total unplanned outages have been at 12 108MW, an improvement from the 15 114MW recorded during the same period last year, representing a reduction of 3 006MW. Today’s unplanned outages are at 11 540MW, which is 1 460MW lower than the summer 2024 base case.
Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF) averaged 54.65% over the past week due to increased planned maintenance, with Medupi, Kusile and all peaking stations achieving an average EAF of 60% and above. The year-to-date EAF is at 62.17%.
With an available generation capacity of 26 249MW and a peak demand forecast of 23 983MW for tonight, Eskom remains on track to meet electricity demand. By Monday evening, an additional 3 760MW is expected to return online.
Key Performance Highlights:
Reduction in unplanned outages:
• The Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF) is at 24.94% for the financial year-to-date (01 April 2024 to 02 January 2025), improving from 32.93% in the corresponding period last year.
• This reduction in UCLF represents a ~8.% improvement compared to the same period last year.
Ongoing Planned Maintenance:
Ongoing planned maintenance at 8 733MW, is aligned with our summer maintenance strategy to further improve the reliability of the stations in preparation for winter 2025 and beyond. December saw planned maintenance average at over 8 000MW as Eskom utilised the December summer break to increase planned maintenance activities to further improve the reliability of its generation fleet as many industries took a recess.
Sustained Energy Availability Factor (EAF) improvement:
• The year-to-date (01 April 2024 to 02 January 2025) EAF is at 62.17%, a significant improvement of ~7.0% compared to the same period last year (55.17%).
• The weekly EAF slightly reduced from 57.0% at the beginning of the financial year to 54.11% from 30 December 2024 to 02 January 2025, mainly due to an increase in planned maintenance.
Continued strategic utilisation of Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs):
Our strategic use of peaking stations, including pumped storage and OCGTs, remains key in managing electricity demand during peak times, particularly during evening peaks (17:00 to 22:00).
• Eskom’s expenditure on OCGTs between 01 April 2024 and 02 January 2025 was about R8.82 billion having generated 1 399.77GWh, approximately 65.2% (R16.52 billion) less than the R25.34 billion spent last year over the same period for 4 045.84GWh.
• The OCGT load factor for 01 April 2024 to 02 January 2025 stabilised at 6.17%, compared to last year’s figure of 17.83%.
• The OCGT load factor for 01 to 02 January 2025 was 12.59%, higher than the 6.16% for the same period last year but this is seen as temporary given the current improvement.
• Diesel usage remains below the year-to-date budget.
‘Save Your Transformers, Save Lives’ campaign
While loadshedding remains suspended, Eskom continues to face network overloading issues in certain local areas due to illegal connections, vandalism, meter tampering, unauthorised network operations, theft of network equipment, and purchasing electricity from unlicensed vendors.
To prevent public safety hazards and the risk of network overloading, which can lead to load reduction measures and extended unplanned power outages, Eskom strongly urges customers to avoid illegal connections. Such actions can negatively impact the entire local community and result in hefty remedial fines.
It is also essential for customers to purchase electricity only from authorised vendors. For a list of Eskom-accredited electricity vending outlets across the country, visit:
https://www.eskom.co.za/distribution/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024123Vending-outlets.xlsx
Eskom urges the public to help protect the integrity of the power network by reporting any illegal activities to the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 112 722 or via WhatsApp at 081 333 3323.
We will provide an update on Friday, 10 January 2025, or promptly communicate any significant changes as soon as they occur.
About Eskom and Electricity – Awards: Eskom has received various awards for its contributions to the energy sector.
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