Load shedding has been reduced as the power supply in South Africa becomes more stable.

Andrew Etzinger, General Manager for Eskom's Demand Side Management said that a ten per cent reduction in demand from the mining sector had made a considerable impact on the electricity grid.

But Alec Erwin, Public Enterprises Minister could be quizzed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) on the quality of coal stocks held by Eskom.

MP Manie Van Dyk is expected to send a letter to Erwin asking if Eskom will consider changing its coal procurement policies in claims that day-to-day stocks have been poorly managed and according to the DA a lack of forward planning is to blame.

However, the country will not be fully operational again for seven days after a weekend power cut forced the Chevron oil refinery in Cape Town to shut down.

According to SABC News, the load shedding blackouts have become a common occurrence since the latter months of 2007 and more generators are needed but these cannot be built until 2013.

Sources:

Better this week than last - Eskom's power cuts, 04/02/08
http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/general/0,2172,163586,00.html

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