Labour Protests Increase Loadshedding Risk; Eskom Warns Stage 3 Possible

Eskom says over the past 24 hours it has experienced protests at nine of its power stations and other operating facilities, which are increasing the risk of loadshedding.

The unprotected strike action is by some Eskom employees, following a deadlock in wage negotiations on Tuesday.

“These protests included incidents of intimidation of working employees and blockading of roads leading to power stations and other facilities, inhibiting the free flow of personnel and commodities required for the generation of electricity and smooth operations.

“The increased unavailability of plant has necessitated an extensive usage of emergency generation reserves, which are depleting faster than can be replenished,” Eskom said in a statement on Friday.

Eskom cautions the public that “should these criminal acts of intimidation persist or spread, this would increase the risk of operational disturbances and the implementation of loadshedding at higher stages.”

Ahead of these disturbances, the power system had already been under considerable strain for a while, with Stage 2 loadshedding currently being implemented. Just yesterday, Eskom chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer said in a media conference that due to a number of failures in the last week, “should we continue to see further breakdowns in the coal fleet the country could see stage 3 load shedding or higher in the coming days.”

Addressing the strikes, Eskom says “The provision of electricity is an essential service in which industrial action is not permitted. The free movement of personnel and transportation of commodities in and out of power stations are essential to ensure smooth operations and to limit loadshedding to current levels and below.”

The power utility has appealed to its labour partners and striking employees to embrace the “higher purpose of putting the people of South Africa first, respect the law and to desist from illegal and undemocratic conduct.”

While exploring possible solutions to unlock the deadlock on the wage talks, Eskom has reported these acts of illegality to the South African Police Service and requested the assistance of the SAPS and other security services in restoring order.

Eskom thanked the majority of its employees, who are diligently performing their duties and many going beyond the call of duty.