[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki41\/south-african-energy-crisis-wikipedia\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki41\/south-african-energy-crisis-wikipedia\/","headline":"South African energy crisis – Wikipedia","name":"South African energy crisis – Wikipedia","description":"Widespread national level rolling blackouts The South African energy crisis is an ongoing period of widespread national blackouts of electricity","datePublished":"2021-07-03","dateModified":"2021-07-03","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki41\/author\/lordneo\/#Person","name":"lordneo","url":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki41\/author\/lordneo\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c9645c498c9701c88b89b8537773dd7c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c9645c498c9701c88b89b8537773dd7c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Enzyklop\u00e4die","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/wiki4\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/download.jpg","url":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/wiki4\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/download.jpg","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/1\/12\/Electrical_Power_Grid_-_South_Africa.png\/220px-Electrical_Power_Grid_-_South_Africa.png","url":"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/1\/12\/Electrical_Power_Grid_-_South_Africa.png\/220px-Electrical_Power_Grid_-_South_Africa.png","height":"190","width":"220"},"url":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki41\/south-african-energy-crisis-wikipedia\/","wordCount":29096,"articleBody":"Widespread national level rolling blackoutsThe South African energy crisis is an ongoing period of widespread national blackouts of electricity supply. It began in the later months of 2007, and continues to the present.[1][2] The South African government-owned national power utility, and primary power generator, Eskom, and various parliamentarians attributed these rolling-blackouts to insufficient generation capacity.[3]According to Eskom and government officials, the solution requires the construction of additional power stations and generators.[4]Corruption and mismanagement of Eskom, most notably during the Jacob Zuma administration, have exacerbated this energy crisis;[5][6][7] neglect by Eskom staff[8] in addition to multiple acts of sabotage[9] and the activity of criminal syndicates within Eskom with alleged political connections[10][11] have also contributed to ongoing power supply problems.Background[edit]Power station maximum generating capacity as of 2019\u00a0\u00a0Coal (83%)\u00a0\u00a0Pumped Storage (6%)\u00a0\u00a0Gas (5%)\u00a0\u00a0Nuclear (4%)\u00a0\u00a0Hydro (2%)\u00a0\u00a0Wind (0.2%)In a December 1998 report, analysts and leaders in Eskom and in the South African government predicted that Eskom would run out of electrical power reserves by 2007 unless action was taken to prevent it.[12][13] To improve power supply and reliability, the 1998 report recommended restructuring Eskom into separate electricity generation and power transmission businesses.[14] Despite the warnings of the 1998 report and requests by Eskom to be allowed to increase capacity, the national government took no action.[15] At the time the Mbeki government was considering the privatisation of Eskom which was cited as a reason why the government took no action.[15] This resulted in Eskom being unable to add additional generating capacity and thereby keep up with increasing national demand for electricity from 2002 onward.[16] Government only granted Eskom permission to significantly expand energy production (by 70%)  in 2004.[17]Aging infrastructure[edit]  Power transmission grid of South Africa in 2022. Pink: 765 kV; Red: 400 kV; Brown: 533 kV HVDC power line from Cahora Bassa, Blue: less than 300 kV15 power stations were commissioned between 1961 and 1996, adding a combined 35,804 MW of capacity. In the 21st century, only 9,564 MW of capacity has been added from the currently constructing power stations Medupi and Kusile.[18] Many Eskom power stations are almost 50 years old and near decommissioning.[12] Following the first period of load shedding in 2007 to 2008 Eskom commissioned the construction of the Medupi and Kusile coal fired power plants to expand energy production by 25%. The construction of these plants encountered numerous technical problems and cost overruns whilst the existing fleet of power plants were not replaced and continued to operate past their operational lifespan.[2]Power station commission history[edit]Below is a timeline of Eskom built major power stations[19]YearPower plantMegawatts1961Komati9901963Rooiwal3001967Camden15611969Grootvlei11801970Hendrina18931971Arnot23521976Kriel30001979Matla36001980Duvha36001984Koeberg18601985Tutuka36541985Lethabo37081987Matimba39901988Kendal41161996Majuba41102015Medupi47642017Kusile4800Loadshedding[edit]  Eskom Power generation on 27 June 2022. Loadshedding indicated as Orange, showing how Eskom can’t generate peak demand[20]  Eskom Loadshedding in GWh[20]In South Africa, loadshedding has been a recurring problem for many years, and one of its main causes is the country’s heavy reliance on coal-fired power plants. These plants are aging and often require maintenance, resulting in breakdowns and unplanned outages that reduce the amount of electricity available to the grid.[21] In addition, the country’s coal supply has been unreliable due to operational issues and disruptions caused by labor strikes.[22]To address this problem, South Africa has been working to shift its energy mix from coal to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power.[23][24] This transition has been slow, but there has been progress in recent years, with the government’s commitment to procuring renewable energy and reducing the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.[25] However, the shift to renewable energy is not without its challenges. The intermittency of wind and solar power means that power supply can be variable, and the power generated is not always available at times of high demand.Since 2007, South Africa has experienced multiple periods of loadshedding as the country’s demand for electricity exceeded its ability, notably Eskom’s ability, to supply it. During these periods the power is rationed between different electrical grid areas cross the country and within municipal areas. With areas experiencing power outages typically lasting two to four hours. Although South Africa has a national grid some areas of the country experience more periods of loadshedding than other areas due to differences in local power generation capabilities and difficulties in electrical distribution.As of December 2019, Eskom have published 8 stages of load shedding, each stage representing the removal of 1000 MW increments of demand by controlled shut down on sections of the supply grid based on a predetermined schedule. Schedules may vary by location. Stage 6 (6000 MW reduction) was implemented the first time on 9 December 2019.[26]Stages of loadshedding and their impact on the end user[27][28]StageEnergy load removedfrom the national gridTypical ImpactPercentage of gridusers without powerAn example loadshedding area in Cape Townmight experience power cuts at the following timesStage 1"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki41\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Enzyklop\u00e4die"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/wiki.edu.vn\/en\/wiki41\/south-african-energy-crisis-wikipedia\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"South African energy crisis – Wikipedia"}}]}]