The electrical system remains "tense and vulnerable" while the demonstrations reinforce the tension, according to Eskom

There is a low to medium load shedding probability this week, but a protest action at the entrance of a coal mine could have a detrimental impact, said the Eskom electricity utility. .

Eskom issued a statement Monday night saying the power system was "tense and vulnerable".

The electricity company uses open cycle gas turbines and emergency supplies to limit the risk of load shedding, the statement said.

Eskom pointed out that the protest actions of Optimum Coal Mine employees had blocked a road leading to the Hendrina Central and to the entrance to the coal mine.

"Hendrina is one of 10 plants with less than 20 days of coal stock in its coal park, and any prolonged disturbance could have a negative impact on the plant," said Eskom.

Employees demand their wages. They would not have been paid for the month of November.

"Eskom's multidisciplinary teams continue to work tirelessly on the 9-point stimulus plan to improve production and operational performance while stabilizing the system," Eskom said.

Eskom said some power generation units should be put back into service later in the week, but encouraged consumers to reduce their demand for electricity.

Last week, Jan Oberholzer, Deputy Director General of Eskom, told the Parliament's portfolio committee on state-owned companies that the most recent load shedding was due to heat as well as the constraints of 39, water supply and diesel.

Oberholzer told the committee that there was no reason for load shedding in the near future if supplies and consumption were controlled.

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