By Rorisang Modiba
- Eskom says one year of uninterrupted power supply shows the national grid has stabilised, with fewer unplanned outages and better power station performance across the country.
- Board Chair Mteto Nyati credits Eskom employees and a generation recovery plan introduced three years ago for turning the utility around after years of crippling blackouts.
Eskom has announced that South Africa has officially gone one full year without any load shedding, a historic achievement after years of rolling blackouts that disrupted daily life, businesses, and the economy.
For many South Africans, load shedding became a painful reality, with some areas previously experiencing up to 16 hours without electricity during Stage 8 power cuts.
The outages affected homes, schools, jobs, and investor confidence across the country.
Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena described the milestone as a major turning point for the power utility and the country.
She said the uninterrupted power supply not only shows operational progress, but also restores public confidence in the national grid.
Eskom also revealed it saved R26.9 billion in diesel costs over the past three years.
Board Chair Mteto Nyati credited the success to Eskom employees and the implementation of the generation recovery plan introduced three years ago.
He said the utility’s technical expertise and maintenance improvements helped stabilise the system.
Group CEO Dan Marokane said the stable electricity supply creates a stronger environment for economic growth, investment, and future energy reforms in South Africa.
Eskom also reported major operational improvements, including better power station performance, fewer unplanned outages, and an 81% reduction in diesel spending.
The utility’s progress even led to a credit rating upgrade from Standard & Poor’s for the first time in more than ten years.
Looking ahead, Eskom says it plans to continue improving reliability while gradually introducing cleaner energy solutions and expanding electricity access across the country.
Pictured above: Eskom.
Image source: File
