According to business spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha, a total of 12 generating units with a combined capacity of 5,271 megaWatts (MW) are expected to return to service over the next few days.

This should help stabilize the national energy network, he added.

We remind customers that power cuts are implemented as a last resort to maintain the stability of the electrical system, he said.

Yesterday, Eskom extended scheduled power cuts until Saturday, November 13.

In a statement, the entity explained that despite the implementation of load reductions (power cuts), events of the last two days demanded an extensive use of emergency generation reserves.

This hindered the recovery of reservoir levels at pumped storage plants, depleting already low diesel levels, he added.

Last Saturday, the company also revealed, there was a major incident in Zambia that affected the entire southern African energy group.

During the event, Eskom says in the text, the imported energy from Cahora Bassa was reduced by one thousand megaWatts (MW), while a generator at the Tutuka plant also went out of service.

In addition, there were unforeseen delays in the return to service of a unit at Lethabo and Majuba power plants.

Total breakdowns currently represent up 16,693 MW of deficit, while planned maintenance is of 5,769 MW of capacity.

A total of 12 generating units with a combined capacity of 5,271 MW are expected to return to service during the week, Eskom announced.

pgh/lcr