SA Marks 168 Days Without Loadshedding as Koeberg Unit 1 Rejoins Grid

31 October 2025

Power System Stability Continues with Significant Improvements in Key Metrics

South Africa has now gone 168 consecutive days without loadshedding, with Eskom reporting continued improvements in plant performance and system stability. In a significant boost to baseload capacity, Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Unit 1 has been reconnected to the national grid following major scheduled maintenance.

The power utility recorded an average of 8,768MW in unplanned outages between 24-30 October, showing a substantial year-on-year reduction of 1,069MW compared to the same period last year.

Energy Availability Factor Continues to Improve

October's Energy Availability Factor (EAF) — a key measure of how much of Eskom's generation capacity is available for use — reached 65.9%, representing a 3.66% improvement from the same period last year. The year-to-date EAF stands at 63.06%, marginally better than last year's 63.02% for the same timeframe.

This improvement is primarily attributed to fewer unplanned outages and additional generation capacity coming online, particularly with both Koeberg units now operational.

Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Strengthens Baseload

The reconnection of Koeberg Unit 1 on Wednesday marks a significant addition to South Africa's baseload generation capacity. With Unit 2 already producing 941MW, and Unit 1 currently ramping up, the nuclear power station will soon contribute over 1,860MW to the national grid once at full output.

This development strengthens the country's 24/7 baseload supply, which is crucial for grid stability and energy security.

Dramatic Reduction in Diesel Usage

In another positive development, Eskom's reliance on expensive diesel generation has decreased dramatically. During the past week, diesel expenditure was just R0.005 million, compared to R7.84 million during the same week last year.

The Open-Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) load factor — which indicates how much these expensive emergency generators are being used — has dropped to a mere 0.0001% from 0.23% in the preceding week, reflecting significant operational improvements.

Planned Maintenance Continues

The Planned Capacity Loss Factor (PCLF) stands at 12.01%, slightly lower than the 12.87% recorded last year. Planned maintenance averaged 5,312MW, accounting for 11.32% of total generation capacity.

This ongoing maintenance work is critical to ensuring long-term plant reliability, even if it temporarily reduces available capacity.

Outlook: What's Next for South Africa's Power System?

According to Eskom's Summer Outlook published on 5 September 2025, no loadshedding is projected for the period from 1 September 2025 to 31 March 2026. This forecast is based on sustained improvements in plant performance resulting from the ongoing Generation Recovery Plan.

In the immediate term, Eskom expects to return 2,400MW of generation capacity ahead of the evening peak on Monday, 3 November, which should help maintain stable electricity supply throughout the coming week. Tonight's evening peak demand is forecast at 23,379MW, against 28,533MW of available capacity — a healthy reserve margin.

While the power system shows signs of sustained improvement, challenges remain. Illegal connections and meter tampering continue to damage infrastructure in certain areas, necessitating load reduction measures in high-risk regions.

Progress on Load Reduction

Eskom aims to eliminate load reduction — which is different from loadshedding and targets specific high-theft areas — by 2027. Approximately 1.69 million customers across 971 feeders, primarily in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal, will benefit from this initiative.

Key interventions include expanding Free Basic Electricity access, installing 577,000 smart meters by 2026, and deploying Distributed Energy Resources to strengthen supply in high-demand and remote areas.

Key Terms Explained

Energy Availability Factor (EAF): The percentage of maximum energy generation that a plant is capable of supplying to the electrical grid, after planned and unplanned outages are taken into account. A higher EAF means more of Eskom's generation fleet is available to produce electricity.

Unplanned Capability Loss Factor (UCLF): The percentage of generation capacity that is unavailable due to unplanned events or breakdowns. Lower UCLF values indicate fewer unexpected plant failures.

Planned Capability Loss Factor (PCLF): The percentage of generation capacity that is unavailable due to planned maintenance. While this reduces available capacity in the short term, it's necessary for long-term reliability.

Open-Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs): Emergency generators that run on diesel fuel. They're quick to start but expensive to operate, costing approximately R4-5 per kWh compared to roughly R1.50 for coal generation.

Baseload Power: Electricity that is available 24/7, regardless of weather conditions or time of day. Nuclear power, like that from Koeberg, is considered premium baseload power due to its reliability and constant output.

Load Reduction: A targeted power cut in specific areas with high levels of electricity theft or network overloading, different from loadshedding which is implemented nationwide when overall demand exceeds supply.

Distributed Energy Resources (DERs): Smaller electricity generation and storage systems located close to where electricity is used, including solar panels, batteries, and small-scale generators.

To report illegal activity affecting Eskom's infrastructure, contact the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 112 722 or via WhatsApp at 081 333 3323.