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Embattled power utility Eskom has refuted claims in posts on social media that the country will soon experience a blackout or collapse of the national electricity grid.
Interim spokesperson, Daphne Mokoena, said on Tuesday that measures are in place to avoid the collapse of the power system, including load shedding
“The risk of a national blackout, while inherent to the operation of a large power system, has an extremely low likelihood of materialising given the implementation of a number of control measures, including load shedding,” she said.
At a media briefing on Monday, EFF leader, Julius Malema, warned of a national grid collapse, while recent reports said the South Africa Special Risk Insurance Association advised clients that it would not pay claims for damages related to a collapse of the national grid.
Energy experts however also cautioned against fear-mongering.
Mokoena said “it would take an unforeseen and sudden sequence of events that results in a cascading collapse of the transmission or generation system, leading to a complete loss of supply across the country.”
She said interim Group Chief Executive also assured delegates at the Enlit Africa conference on Tuesday that there are several controls in place and “that he doesn’t lose sleep on the issue.”
“This is due to the confidence in the staff at the System Operator who have the competence to manage the tight system for the past three years.”
