The History of Loadshedding in South Africa: How, Why and When It Started
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What Causes is Load Shedding In South Africa?
Until the early 20th century, South Africa mainly depended on the railways to transport bulk goods. But with the advent of the automobile, road transport started to gain importance in the country. The gradual shift from rail transport brought about a coal shortage, which was used to generate electricity until the late 1960s. In the late 1950s, the newly built aluminium smelters in the Western Cape took up a large portion of the country’s electricity generation capacity. The aluminium industry had a great demand for electricity. As a result, most of the Western Cape’s power plants were forced to close down, compelling the national grid to rely on less reliable sources such as nuclear power and hydroelectricity to meet the demand. This created a situation where the state of the South African power system was highly dependent on the condition of the aluminium industry, which was severely affected by climate fluctuations and global trade fluctuations.
History of Load Shedding in South Africa
In the 1960s, the government began to subsidise the aluminium industry in the Western Cape heavily. Subsidising power plants were also initiated to supply aluminium smelters with cheap power. However, the global aluminium market experienced a significant slump in the mid-1970s, forcing the Western Cape’s aluminium industry to relocate to countries such as Malaysia and China. This severely affected the state of the Western Cape’s power system, and the load-shedding in the country started. Load-shedding was introduced to the country’s grid in 1967. The process consisted of shutting down some of the power plants in the country’s power system and switching to less reliable power sources. The government announced that it would continue to subsidise power in the Western Cape and other areas of the country where there was a deficit in power supply. The process of load-shedding was often repeated several times in a day. The frequency of load-shedding increased as the economy kept on experiencing downfalls. The government announced several times that it would introduce energy reforms to bring down the cost of energy. However, the process was never initiated.
Day-to-Day Updates During Load Shedding Period
It’s difficult to say precisely when load shedding will commence. Sometimes it can start at any point during the day and last for hours. The only way to know for sure is to check with your local utility company. Some of the more common breakdowns that cause load shedding are Water and Sewerage: The main reason for these being cut off is a blockage in the pipes. As the water and sewage systems are vital to keeping a city running, these services can often be cut off during a blackout. Power Lines: The leading cause for these being cut is because the tree branches below which they are strung have fallen and the wires are too heavy for the branches to carry. Street Lights: These are often switched off to save energy.
How to Avoid Power Outages During Load Shedding Period?
You can do many things to avoid the possibility of your electricity being cut off. – Make sure that your appliances are regularly maintained and looked after by an approved service provider. Doing this will help to prevent any severe breakdowns from taking place. – Use appliances that consume less power. For example, you should turn off your freezer when it’s full as this is a heavy user of electricity. – Check your appliances for any sign of wear and tear and get them serviced as soon as possible. – Install intelligent home devices that can be monitored and controlled remotely. This can help to save energy and keep your appliances running at their most efficient levels. – Keep an eye on your usage. Knowing how much energy you’re using will help inform you when it’s time to turn off appliances that are running low on power.
Conclusion
South Africa may be in a position to produce most of the country’s electricity, but in reality, the country’s power is highly dependent on the condition of its aluminium industry. Load-shedding and frequent blackouts are common in the country and pose a severe threat to the nation’s safety. As a result, many people are looking to remove their investments from the country, which poses an extreme risk to South Africa’s financial future. If you are considering a move to the country, you should be aware of the potential for frequent outages and the potential safety threat posed by a large number of dangerous power lines.
