There are other problems than the solution to the current power crisis as open shedding continues. City of Tshwane councilor Daryl Johnston has warned that stage 6 load shedding could lead to water disruptions. The flow of water is interrupted “When we have a reservoir with storage for the end through short interruptions, this reservoir depends on continuous flow to maintain the level,” he said. “This continuous flow depends on the pump station that is running to pump water. By reducing the load very often, the flow of water is constantly interrupted. This means that reservoirs that are under significant pressure, such as high reservoirs, can slow down. ..
There are other problems than the solution to the current power crisis as open shedding continues. City of Tshwane councilor Daryl Johnston has warned that stage 6 load shedding could lead to water disruptions.
The water flow is interrupted
“When we have a reservoir with storage to last through short interruptions, this reservoir depends on continuous flow to maintain the level,” he said.
“This continuous flow depends on the pump station running to pump the water. By reducing the load too often, the flow of water is constantly interrupted.
This means that reservoirs that are under significant pressure, such as high reservoirs, can slowly drop their water levels until they threaten to dry up.
More open shedding on the card
Energy expert Clyde Mallinson also warned that more load is on the cards if the capacity factor does not increase quickly.
Mallinson created a prediction table for load shedding rate versus available capacity factor. He said residents could experience stage 6 load shedding that could rise to stage 8 or 10 if power capacity drops to 40% of coal fleet capacity.
“If the total installed capacity of the coal fleet is 40GW, the capacity factor is 40%, which means that the coal fleet only produces an average of 16GW.
We are currently running between 40% and 45% with variations up and down depending on new breakdowns, and units returning to service,” he said.
According to Mallinson’s calculations, the opening of shedding stage 6 is possible for the next six months if the capacity of the available energy factor does not rise above the 50% mark.
“As the coal fleet is available, the energy factor increases from 40% to 60%, some of my estimates, the max is expected to open shedding to decrease,” he said.
‘SA will break fast’
The founder of Action Society, Ian Cameron, said that if open shedding continues, the country will quickly deteriorate and become increasingly unstable and volatile.
“Not only will it increase socioeconomic challenges, but criminals will also abuse the current situation as much as possible,” he said.
Criminologist Professor Jaco Barkhuizen said the inability to provide homes with uninterrupted electricity made residents vulnerable to criminals. “The security system and the battery only last so long,” he said.
Also read: WATCH: Stage 6 load shedding affecting water supply, Joburg Water says