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South Africa’s Utility Eskom said on Monday it expects no blackouts through the southern hemisphere winter, which will end in August 2025. The utility did not record electricity cuts for nine months last year during the winter, but has seen significant improvements
South Africa’s Utility Eskom said Monday it expects no blackouts through the southern hemisphere winter, which will end in August 2025. The company’s baseline scenario predicts stable power supplies after improved plant performance over the past year.
Eskom CEO Dan Marokane told reporters that if the breakdown increases to 14,000 MW it could result in a one-day outage and if it rises to 15,000 MW it could be up to 21 days. Eskom currently has a nominal generation capacity of more than 46,000 MW, primarily from coal, with additional supply from nuclear, diesel and hydropowered power sources.
The utility did not record electricity cuts for nine months last year during the winter.
Malokan admitted a 14-day load suppression in early 2025, but said this was a temporary setback, highlighting continued progress in operational performance.
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Key takeout
Eskom’s increased reliability shows a shift from the last sustained blackouts that constrained South Africa’s economy and undermine investor trust. Loading becomes a routine due to the removal of power outages and infrastructure, maintenance backlogs and financial pain. The current stability of the utility is attributed to improved maintenance plans, increased plant efficiency, and unforeseen failures that are less than expected. While the risk remains, especially in the face of a surge in demand in winter, Eskom’s basic incident suggests that the country may be in a more stable energy period. However, systems rely heavily on coal and are exposed to operational and environmental risks. Long-term reform and diversification of renewable energy is key to ensuring a sustainable supply. For now, Eskom’s winter forecasts ease households, businesses and the broader economy.
