Pretoria, South Africa – (African Boulevard News) – South Africans should brace themselves for a difficult winter as load shedding is expected to intensify. This announcement was made by Eskom’s acting CEO, Calib Cassim, at a news conference in Johannesburg.
Load shedding, a measure taken by Eskom to prevent the national grid from collapsing, has become a household term in South Africa. It involves cutting power to certain areas for periods ranging from two to four hours to reduce the demand for electricity. South Africa has been suffering from power outages for over a decade, with Eskom failing to keep up with the growing demand for electricity.
Cassim warned that the situation was likely to worsen in the winter months, as demand for electricity increases due to colder weather. “It is going to be a tough winter,” he said. “We have to plan for the worst and hope for the best.”
The news of intensified load shedding has sent shockwaves through the country, with many expressing their frustration and anger on social media. Some have called for Eskom to be privatized, while others have criticized the government for failing to address the issue adequately.
In response to the announcement, energy experts have advised South Africans to reduce their electricity consumption as much as possible. “We need to start taking responsibility for our energy usage,” said Prof. Karen Surridge, a lecturer in energy economics at the University of Cape Town. “Switch off lights when they are not needed, unplug appliances when they are not in use, and invest in energy-efficient technologies.”
Surridge also called on the government to invest in renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power to reduce the country’s dependence on coal-generated electricity. “We need to diversify our energy mix and move away from fossil fuels,” she said. “This will not only help to reduce our carbon emissions but also ensure a more stable and reliable power supply.”
The announcement by Eskom comes on the back of a recent report by the International Energy Agency, which warned that South Africa’s energy security was at risk due to the country’s heavy dependence on coal. The report called for urgent action to be taken to diversify the country’s energy mix and ensure a more sustainable future.
In conclusion, South Africans are in for a tough winter as load shedding is expected to intensify. Eskom’s acting CEO has called on the public to prepare for the worst and reduce their electricity usage as much as possible. Energy experts have also advised the government to invest in renewable energy sources to ensure a more stable and reliable power supply. The ball is now in the government’s court to take urgent action and address the country’s energy crisis.
