Johannesburg: Eskom announced that South Africa’s power system continues to function reliably, successfully meeting the country’s electricity demand. The utility company attributes this stability to the ongoing implementation of its Generation Recovery Plan, which is enhancing grid stability, improving operational efficiencies, and providing energy security. The Open-Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) load factor has significantly decreased to 0.0001% from 0.23% the previous week, reflecting sustained efficiency improvements.
According to South African Government News Agency, the year-to-date Energy Availability Factor (EAF) has risen to 63.06%, compared to 63.02% during the same period last year. Between 1 to 30 October 2025, the EAF increased to 65.9%, marking a 3.66% improvement from the same period last year. This increase is attributed to fewer unplanned outages and additional generation capacity.
Eskom highlighted that Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Unit 1 was reconnected to the national grid following major scheduled maintenance, which strengthens 24/7 baseload capacity and enhances both the EAF and overall energy security. Both units at Koeberg are operational, with Unit 1 ramping up and Unit 2 producing 941MW. Once at full capacity, the nuclear power station will generate over 1,860MW, underscoring Eskom’s commitment to safe, reliable, and efficient nuclear operations.
During the past week, Eskom’s diesel expenditure was notably reduced to R0.005 million, a significant decline from R7.84 million during the same week last year. This reduction indicates a decreased reliance on diesel generation and a shift toward more cost-effective primary energy sources. Year-to-date, diesel expenditure remains consistently below budget.
From 1 to 30 October 2025, the Unplanned Capability Loss Factor (UCLF), which measures the percentage of generation capacity lost due to unplanned outages, reduced to 21.78%. This marks a significant 2.73% improvement from the 24.51% recorded during the same period last year. The Planned Capacity Loss Factor (PCLF) stands at 12.01%, slightly down from 12.87% last year, aligning with Eskom’s long-term maintenance schedule and ongoing efforts to enhance plant reliability and operational consistency.
In the period between 24 and 30 October 2025, Eskom recorded an average of 8,768MW in unplanned outages, an improvement from 9,837MW during the same period last year. This year-on-year reduction of 1,069MW in breakdowns highlights the growing reliability and resilience of the generation fleet.
