Eskom reduces power supply to Swaziland

• 11 years ago (2012-05-22)
• David Flin

Africa 303 Nuclear 640

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Swaziland Electricity Company has announced that it has instigated one hour load shedding blackouts on a rolling schedule. Sifiso Dhlammini, SEC Corporate Communications Manager, said that load-shedding will be rotated among various areas of the kingdom at periods of peak demand. He said: “The weather has been extremely cold these days, and this has increased the demand for electricity to exceedingly high levels. We had underestimated the demand that the cold weather brought about. If the cold continues for a lengthy period, then we will be in serious trouble.”

Swaziland imports 90 MW, representing over 80 percent of its electricity from the South African power utility Eskom. Eskom said that its production levels were under pressure, and that it had to reduce by 20 percent the amount of electricity it exported to Swaziland at peak hours.

Part of the reason for Eskom’s production coming under pressure is the start of maintenance at the Koberg Nuclear Plant in Cape Town. Dhlamini said: “Eskom’s energy reserves have been overstretched as the maintenance continues.” He added that SEC has a contract with Eskom that stipulates that the latter supplied the former without fail. However, he said it was important for SEC to cooperate with Eskom.