State-owned power utility Eskom will again be implementing Stage 2 load-shedding from 16:00 on June 1 to 05:00 on June 2.

This is owing to further breakdowns of generating units at the Kriel, Arnot, Majuba and Tutuka power stations over the past 24 hours, as well as delays in returning units to service at the Duvha and Tutuka power stations, Eskom says.

It adds that this bout of load-shedding will also assist in replenishing the emergency generation reserves, which have been used extensively over the past three weeks to avoid load-shedding during the day.

During this period, a generation unit each at Kusile and Arnot were returned to service.

This, however, is not sufficient to eliminate load-shedding for the rest of the week, Eskom warns, adding that the generation supply constraints will persist throughout the high winter demand period, which increases the likelihood of further load-shedding.

Breakdowns currently total 15 360 MW of capacity, while another 1 580 MW is unavailable owing to planned maintenance. Some generation units are expected to return to service starting this evening, which will help ease the strain.