Minister Ramokgopa says he’ll be the first person to declare end to load shedding

Minister Ramokgopa says he’ll be the first person to declare end to load shedding! Energy and Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has assured South Africans that he will be the first person to officially declare the end of load shedding once the crisis is fully resolved. However, despite significant improvements, the power utility Eskom has warned of a high risk of load shedding this weekend due to multiple breakdowns at power stations.

Eskom’s Financial Woes and Load Shedding Record

Ramokgopa addressed Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Eskom’s 2023/2024 annual report, describing it as the entity’s worst-ever financial year.

Some key findings from the report include:

• Eskom recorded a net loss of R25 billion before tax in the previous financial year.
• The utility implemented load shedding for a record 329 days in 2023/2024.
• Eskom spent R33.9 billion on open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs), which are powered by expensive diesel.

Despite these financial struggles, Ramokgopa and Eskom management remain optimistic, believing that the power utility is moving in the right direction in the current 2024/2025 financial year.

Improvements but Ongoing Risks

Ramokgopa acknowledged that Eskom is still facing serious challenges, but he emphasized that there have been notable improvements in power generation.

He reassured the public that when load shedding is completely eliminated, he and Eskom’s leadership will officially announce it to the nation.

“When load shedding is behind us, the chair of Eskom and I will stand before the country and make that pronouncement. However, we still have significant headwinds to overcome,” said Ramokgopa.

Although South Africa has experienced nearly a year without load shedding, the risk remains high, especially over the upcoming weekend.

“Like I said, load shedding is not behind us, and as I speak to you now, the system is under serious strain,” he added.

What’s Changed in the Current Financial Year?

While Eskom struggled significantly in 2023/2024, the 2024/2025 financial year appears to be showing positive progress:

• No load shedding has been implemented so far this year.
• Eskom has managed to save R11.9 billion on diesel spending for open-cycle gas turbines, reducing its reliance on emergency power generation.

These improvements signal that Eskom is making structural progress in stabilizing its electricity supply, though challenges remain.

Why Is Load Shedding Still a Risk?

Despite improvements, Eskom continues to face multiple power station breakdowns, which put the system under strain.

The power utility warned that load shedding up to Stage 4 could be implemented over the weekend if emergency reserves are not replenished.

According to Eskom Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane:

“This is a potentially temporary setback. Load shedding is largely behind us due to the structural improvements in our generation fleet. However, over the past seven days, we have experienced several breakdowns that require extended repair times. This has necessitated the use of all our emergency reserves, which now need to be replenished.”

Government’s Commitment to Ending Load Shedding

Minister Ramokgopa and Eskom management have reiterated their commitment to ensuring a permanent end to load shedding.

However, they also caution that while progress has been made, the system remains vulnerable to unexpected breakdowns and high demand.

South Africans remain hopeful that Eskom’s improvements will eventually lead to a more stable electricity supply, but for now, the risk of power cuts remains a reality.

What’s Next?

• Eskom and the Minister of Electricity and Energy are expected to provide a further update on the country’s electricity generation performance.
• South Africans are advised to stay prepared for possible load shedding over the weekend as Eskom works to stabilize its generation capacity.
• The government continues to focus on long-term energy solutions, including renewable energy and infrastructure upgrades, to permanently end load shedding.

For now, while the worst of load shedding may be over, Ramokgopa’s official declaration of its complete end remains on hold.