Is Load Shedding Finally Waning? Eskom Updates on Koeberg Nuclear Power and Grid Stability

Koeberg Unit 1 Returns to the Grid

South Africans may be starting to feel a rare sense of relief as Eskom reconnects Unit 1 of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station to the national grid. The move comes after a delay earlier this year and is expected to generate over 1,860MW at full output.

According to Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena, the reconnection marks a “milestone” in securing the country’s electricity supply. “Both units at Koeberg are online, with Unit 1 ramping up and Unit 2 producing 941MW. Once at full output, Koeberg will significantly strengthen our grid,” Mokwena said.

The news has prompted cautious optimism across social media, with many South Africans reflecting on the prolonged strain of load shedding over the past decade.

A Year of Improved Performance

Eskom reports that the national power system is more stable than last year, with a 1,069MW reduction in unplanned outages. Mokwena highlighted that the Energy Availability Factor (EAF), a key measure of reliability, increased to 65.9% in October 2025, up from 62.24% in the same month last year.

This improvement, driven by fewer breakdowns and additional generation, suggests that Eskom’s efforts to maintain and extend the life of its infrastructure are beginning to pay off.

Diesel Dependence Falls Sharply

Another sign of progress is Eskom’s dramatic reduction in diesel usage. Mokwena revealed that diesel expenditure last week was R0.005 million, compared to R7.84 million in the same week last year.

“This signals a shift toward more cost-effective primary energy sources,” she said. For many South Africans, diesel-powered generators have long been associated with expensive and unreliable emergency backup power during load shedding periods.

Load Shedding: Nearly 200 Days Without

South Africa has now gone 168 consecutive days without load shedding, with only 26 hours recorded in April and May 2025. Eskom plans to return 2,400MW of generation capacity ahead of the evening peak on 3 November, supporting a stable electricity supply for the week.

The utility forecasts the evening peak demand at 23,379MW, with 28,533MW of available capacity, offering a comfortable buffer to avoid disruptions.

A Vision to End Load Reductions

Looking further ahead, Eskom aims to eliminate load reductions entirely by 2027, benefiting roughly 1.69 million of its 7.2 million customers across Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal.

Key interventions include:

• Expanding free basic electricity to more households

• Installing 577,000 smart meters by 2026, with full completion by 2027

For residents long accustomed to switching off geysers and rationing electricity, these measures could signal a new era of stability and predictability in South Africa’s power supply.

Public Sentiment and Cautious Optimism

Social media has been abuzz with mixed reactions. While many are celebrating the extended respite from load shedding, others caution that South Africa’s grid remains fragile, citing aging infrastructure and the unpredictable nature of coal-fired plants.

Still, the reconnection of Koeberg Unit 1 and improved system metrics offer a glimmer of hope that South Africans might finally see the end of the load-shedding cycle within the next few years.

{Source: The Citizen}

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