POWER CRISIS!

A POWER supply emergency in South Africa hit Namibia yesterday.

Power utility NamPower is calling on Namibians to turn off all non-essential lighting, geysers and household appliances in standby mode such as hi-fi systems, video and DVD players. Large power users such as mines must also reduce their usage to prevent a power collapse.South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, declared a state of emergency yesterday, forcing NamPower to reduce its power import from the southern neighbour by 30 Megawatt.NamPower urges all businesses to turn off all non-essential lighting and office equipment during the day and overnight.Residential consumers must switch off geysers when they get home from work and during the electricity peak period.They can switch them back on later before going to bed.NamPower spokesperson John Kaimu said they were consulting with large power users such as mines, the regional electricity distributors (REDs) and local authorities to reduce their usage in an attempt to manage the load and prevent a collapse of the power grid.”Switch off appliances in standby mode such as hi-fi systems, video and DVD players and other electronic devices and limit the use of [swimming] pool pumps,” Kaimu said.Residential consumers were also encouraged to use electricity sparingly by keeping lights off in rooms that are not occupied, and by using hot water, air-conditioners and heaters sparingly.Kaimu called on home owners to use microwave ovens rather than stoves.”The situation is being monitored and is under control.We will keep all stakeholders informed about any further developments such as unplanned outages or reduced supply to consumers,” Kaimu said.NamPower received a request from Eskom yesterday morning to reduce electricity demand by 30 MW due to technical problems experienced on Eskom’s side.At the time of the request, Namibia was importing 238 MW from Eskom.Eskom has declared a state of power supply emergency in accordance with the SAPP Agreement, which requires all affected countries to co-operate by implementing demand-side management measures.The request applies not only to Namibia but also to Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Zambia and southern Mozambique.At the moment, NamPower get its power from the Ruacana power station, where water levels are as low as 27 cubic metres per second – only enough to run the station at full capacity during peak hours.The output at the coal-fired Van Eck Power Station in Windhoek is around 80 MW while the output of the Paratus Power Station at Walvis Bay is only 8 MW as a result of technical problems.In South Africa, Eskom has already cautioned that load shedding was possible for the rest of the week if electricity was not used sparingly.Yesterday’s warning came after Eskom warned that severe wet weather could cut power if it damaged electricity pylons and other critical electrical infrastructure.Electricity supply was already expected to be “tight”, Eskom said in a statement.”A temporary shortage of power on the national system due to unplanned outages at a number of critical generating units together with severe weather conditions increases the possibility of load shedding,” the power utility said.Last month Siseho Simasiku, the head of Namibia’s Electricity Control Board, said southern Africa urgently needed to invest in its energy sector to be able to provide its growing populations with electricity and the means for economic development.He said the region was “running dry”.NamPower is in the process of revamping the Hwange power station in Zimbabwe in return for a steady supply of electricity once it restarts operations towards the beginning of 2008.Eskom is investing N$100 billion to bring new generating capacity online over the next five years.However, besides investing in capacity, African countries should also cut energy usage, for example by promoting the use of energy-saving light bulbs and renewable energy sources, such as solar power, Simasiku said.NamPower has already introduced energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs in Namibia, while the Government subsidises the installation of solar systems for household use and plans to fit all Government buildings with solar heating systems.Large power users such as mines must also reduce their usage to prevent a power collapse.South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, declared a state of emergency yesterday, forcing NamPower to reduce its power import from the southern neighbour by 30 Megawatt.NamPower urges all businesses to turn off all non-essential lighting and office equipment during the day and overnight.Residential consumers must switch off geysers when they get home from work and during the electricity peak period.They can switch them back on later before going to bed.NamPower spokesperson John Kaimu said they were consulting with large power users such as mines, the regional electricity distributors (REDs) and local authorities to reduce their usage in an attempt to manage the load and prevent a collapse of the power grid. “Switch off appliances in standby mode such as hi-fi systems, video and DVD players and other electronic devices and limit the use of [swimming] pool pumps,” Kaimu said.Residential consumers were also encouraged to use electricity sparingly by keeping lights off in rooms that are not occupied, and by using hot water, air-conditioners and heaters sparingly.Kaimu called on home owners to use microwave ovens rather than stoves.”The situation is being monitored and is under control.We will keep all stakeholders informed about any further developments such as unplanned outages or reduced supply to consumers,” Kaimu said.NamPower received a request from Eskom yesterday morning to reduce electricity demand by 30 MW due to technical problems experienced on Eskom’s side.At the time of the request, Namibia was importing 238 MW from Eskom.Eskom has declared a state of power supply emergency in accordance with the SAPP Agreement, which requires all affected countries to co-operate by implementing demand-side management measures.The request applies not only to Namibia but also to Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Zambia and southern Mozambique.At the moment, NamPower get its power from the Ruacana power station, where water levels are as low as 27 cubic metres per second – only enough to run the station at full capacity during peak hours.The output at the coal-fired Van Eck Power Station in Windhoek is around 80 MW while the output of the Paratus Power Station at Walvis Bay is only 8 MW as a result of technical problems.In South Africa, Eskom has already cautioned that load shedding was possible for the rest of the week if electricity was not used sparingly.Yesterday’s warning came after Eskom warned that severe wet weather could cut power if it damaged electricity pylons and other critical electrical infrastructure.Electricity supply was already expected to be “tight”, Eskom said in a statement.”A temporary shortage of power on the national system due to unplanned outages at a number of critical generating units together with severe weather conditions increases the possibility of load shedding,” the power utility said.Last month Siseho Simasiku, the head of Namibia’s Electricity Control Board, said southern Africa urgently needed to invest in its energy sector to be able to provide its growing populations with electricity and the means for economic development.He said the region was “running dry”.NamPower is in the process of revamping the Hwange power station in Zimbabwe in return for a steady supply of electricity once it restarts operations towards the beginning of 2008.Eskom is investing N$100 billion to bring new generating capacity online over the next five years.However, besides investing in capacity, African countries should also cut energy usage, for example by promoting the use of energy-saving light bulbs and renewable energy sources, such as solar power, Simasiku said.NamPower has already introduced energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs in Namibia, while the Government subsidises the installation of solar systems for household use and plans to fit all Government buildings with solar heating systems.