Eskom Generation Recovery: Incredible Improvements Boost Stability
The Eskom Generation Recovery Plan is transforming South Africa’s power system, ensuring reliability, reducing unplanned outages, and supporting economic growth. Recent data shows that the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) has surpassed the 70% target, reflecting consistent gains in plant performance and stability.
Eskom Generation Recovery enhances grid stability
The implementation of the Eskom Generation Recovery Plan has strengthened the grid by improving generation reliability across key power stations. Month-to-date EAF reached 70.45%, demonstrating reduced unplanned outages and a more dependable electricity supply for consumers and businesses alike.
Reduction in diesel reliance
One of the major achievements of the Eskom Generation Recovery Plan is the reduced dependence on diesel-powered Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs). From 1 April to 2 October 2025, diesel expenditure remained below budget, with the year-to-date load factor for OCGTs decreasing to 6.63%, reflecting significant cost efficiency and sustainable energy practices.
Completion of Kusile Unit 6
On 29 September 2025, Unit 6 at Kusile Power Station began commercial operation, marking the completion of Eskom’s New-Build Programme. Alongside Medupi, the country now has two supercritical coal-fired power stations capable of delivering 9,600MW, strengthening South Africa’s continuous baseload capacity and contributing to overall system reliability.
Year-on-year outage reduction
Between 26 September and 2 October 2025, Eskom recorded an average of 9,534MW in unplanned outages, a significant improvement from 11,505MW during the same period last year. This year-on-year reduction of 1,971MW demonstrates the growing stability and improved reliability of Eskom’s generation fleet.
Continuous electricity supply
Thanks to the Eskom Generation Recovery Plan, South Africa has gone 140 consecutive days without loadshedding. From 1 April to 2 October 2025, only 26 hours of load reduction were recorded. This highlights the positive impact of the plan on maintaining a steady and reliable electricity supply across the country.
Technical efficiency improvements
Technical upgrades under the Eskom Generation Recovery Plan have enhanced plant performance, with electricity demand being met over 97.8% of the time in the current financial year. Ongoing optimization of generation units ensures higher efficiency, reduced downtime, and a sustainable approach to energy production.
Unplanned Capability Loss Factor improvement
The Eskom Generation Recovery Plan has reduced the Unplanned Capability Loss Factor (UCLF) to 25.63% between 1 April and 2 October 2025. This represents a week-on-week improvement of approximately 0.21% and demonstrates consistent progress in minimizing unplanned outages across the generation fleet.
Planned maintenance optimization
Year-to-date planned maintenance has averaged 5,263MW, accounting for 11.22% of total generation capacity. The Eskom Generation Recovery Plan ensures that maintenance schedules are optimized to balance reliability and efficiency, allowing for improved grid stability while maintaining operational excellence.
Improved diesel generation efficiency
Diesel generation under the OCGT fleet has been significantly optimized. From 1 April to 2 October 2025, Eskom generated 1,004.70GWh from OCGTs with diesel expenditure totaling R5.9532 billion. Recent weekly data shows diesel spending dropped to just R0.09 million at a load factor of 0.003%, highlighting ongoing efficiency gains.
Protecting infrastructure and preventing illegal connections
Despite the overall stability achieved through the Eskom Generation Recovery Plan, load reduction remains necessary in certain high-risk areas to protect infrastructure. Illegal electricity connections and meter tampering compromise network integrity, often causing equipment damage and outages. Eskom urges customers to report any illegal activity and only purchase electricity from accredited vendors. For more guidance on preventing power failures, visit Eskom Media Releases.
Conclusion: Eskom Generation Recovery as a national milestone
The Eskom Generation Recovery Plan has significantly enhanced plant reliability, reduced unplanned outages, and strengthened South Africa’s grid stability. Continued improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and efficiency measures aim to eliminate load reduction within 12–18 months. For further insights into South Africa’s energy initiatives, see our detailed guide on South Africa Energy Initiatives.
