Eskom board chairman Zola Tsotsi said South Africa will be on the precipice of more load shedding “for some time, even when new capacity comes online.”
It would take some time to be confident about the new capacity’s reliability.
Mr Brian Dames, former CEO of Eskom said resorting to load shedding was “a very painful decision. We are very well aware of the impact on people’s lives and the economy”.
-Business Day 7 March 2014
Load shedding earlier in March confirmed that South Africa is hovering on the threshold of another national power crisis, similar to the one that was seen in 2008.
Eskom spokesperson Andrew Etzinger blamed the load shedding on wet coal, caused by heavy rain earlier in March. However, some reports and speculation also include a few other factors that South African business owners need to be concerned about. According to a Business Day report all of South Africa’s best quality coal are exported, while Eskom buys up the dregs.
“While the quality of the coal supplied to Eskom by local mines is not always the best, this is because Eskom does not want to pay the international going rate for quality thermal coal. If it did, there would be no problem persuading producers to sell their coal locally rather than exporting it,” the report reads.
The date of completion of the Medupi and Kulisa power stations is still a matter of uncertainty. All these factors make load shedding an economic hazard and harsh reality.
The impact of load shedding on the economy and jobs is daunting, but it can be overcome if businesses plan ahead. There is an increase of businesses and individuals that rely on generators to ensure minimum or no downtime and continued productivity.
Custom build generators that cater for small to medium enterprises is the ideal solution. It ensures a reliable electricity supply that is tailor-made to a business’ specific electricity needs.
Genpower is a manufacturer of custom build generators. The company will identify and analyze their client’s exact power supply requirements during a detailed consultation. The most suitable site location to install the custom build generator is also identified and necessary recommendations proposed, considering optimization and safety.
You need to consider the following features when you or your business is looking to invest in a generator. This will make sure it caters to all your needs and provide sufficient power supply during load shedding:
The identification of power output requirement such as size and phase:
- What items and devices need to be powered by the generator?
- What is the starting and running currents of these items?
- Calculate the power wattage.
- Location requirement.
- Maintenance and service requirement.
It is important that clients choose the right size generator to ensure no unexpected failures, no shutdowns due to capacity overload and an increased longevity of the generator. The correct size also guarantees performance, system life span and smoother hassle-free maintenance.
When you invest in a custom build generator for your business’ specific needs you also ensure the personal safety of your staff and minimize your risk of asset damage.
Before you decide to invest in a generator, make sure you identify a credible supplier with many years of experience and qualified personnel. They will ensure the supply of an efficient, effective generator that’s properly installed and meets your specific requirements. After sales service and maintenance is also a necessity, especially for custom build generators.
Contact Genpower today for your custom build or standard generator requirements and ensure you have a sufficient power supply during load shedding.
