Keywords:Â Electricity grid, Detected notable problems, South Africa, Power crisis, Eskom
 Abstract
With the world’s most sophisticated electricity grid system, Eskom is one of Africa’s biggest power producers.
But today, this has been put to the test by one of the country’s worst national blackouts. For many people around Johannesburg and Pretoria-the nation’s economic hub-life has come to an absolute standstill.
With some traffic lights not working and hospitals without power, this blackout is causing chaos throughout Johannesburg. For others, it is an opportunity to have the most peaceful night in recent memory.
South Africa faces notable problems
The main problem for the city is that most of its electricity supply lies underground, needing constant temperature control. The same goes for most of the country’s other transmission lines. These cables are carrying electricity from thermal power stations, which generate about 95 per cent of South Africa’s energy. But as so often in South Africa, problems occur when logistics fail to work properly from above ground.
Even though only a few cables were damaged today, they still caused a national blackout because they were interconnected with other power lines and stations. Water pipes also had problems, putting pressure on the electricity flow.
The electricity grid is a public property
The electricity grid is public property and managed by Eskom, the country’s state power generator. But it is technically a wholesale market where operators can buy and sell supplies.
The electricity is then transmitted through lines laid on the ground to reach homes and businesses from large power stations like Medupi or Kusile. Because of this, the system can go offline at any given moment, but fortunately, it almost never happens. Until today. During the blackout, Eskom has been working to fix the problem.
Some of the electricity networks were ruled safe, while other parts have been shut down until they can be certified as safe.
With power and water supply restored, Eskom will have to wait until all lines are completely stable before they can deem the city’s power supply 100 per cent secure again. For most people in Johannesburg and Pretoria, this looks like a new nightmare is just beginning. South Africa is one of few countries to have reacted to climate change with decisive action.
Summary
South Africa is experiencing one of its worst power blackouts in recent memory. Most of the country’s electricity supply lies underground, requiring constant temperature control.
Eskom will have to wait until all lines are completely stable before they deem the city’s power supply 100 per cent secure again.
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