CAPE TOWN, July 31 (Xinhua) -- South Africa will be plunged into darkness again as a result of a continuous strike by employees at power stations, authorities warned on Tuesday.
The electricity system remains constrained with a high probability of Stage 1 rotational load shedding this evening, said state-run electricity utility Eskom which provides more than 95 percent of the electricity consumed in the country.
Eskom said it will advise if load shedding will be conducted in either stage 1, stage 2, stage 3 or stage 4, dependent on the capacity shortage.
Stage 1 requires 1,000MW to be rotationally loadshed nation-wide, stage 2 requires 2,000MW, stage 3 requires 3,000MW and stage 4 calls for up to 4,000MW to be rotationally loadshed nationally at a given period.
Load shedding is conducted rotationally as a measure of last resort to protect the power system from a total collapse or blackout.
"We encourage residents and businesses to please use electricity sparingly to ease the demand of electricity," the utility said.
The generation and distribution of electricity in the country has been constrained after Eskom employees downed tools last month to press their demand for wage increases.
The strike shows no sign of abating because cash-strapped Eskom cannot afford to raise wages for its workers.
Electricity supply network has been affected by acts of sabotage and intimidation that characterize the current industrial action by members of trade unions, according to Eskom.
Eskom is now facing a serious coal shortage at seven power stations.
The utility has sought the services of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to facilitate the engagement between Eskom and union leaders to resolve the impasse.
"We are hopeful that all parties will put South Africa first as we endeavor in finding an amicable solution," said Eskom.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has been mobilized to maintain order and to enable safe access to power stations as these are national key points, Eskom said.
The current situation has given rise to fears that similar load shedding is on the way as in 2014 and 2015 when frequent load shedding gripped the country.
