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Eskom Unplanned Capability Loss Factor (UCLF)<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1-1.jpeg\")
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\nEskom Energy Availability Factor (EAF) – 2024 in green<\/span><\/h2>\n
Eskom’s latest performance data showed a dramatic reduction in its unplanned breakdowns, also known as the Unplanned Capability Loss Factor (UCLF).<\/p>\n
Energy analyst Chris Yelland highlighted that Eskom’s UCLF dropped by five percentage points \u2014 from 30.56% to 25.56% \u2014 over the last week.<\/p>\n
The decline was unexpected as unplanned breakdowns hovered around 30% for the first 17 weeks of 2024.<\/p>\n
The big decline in unplanned breakdowns caused the week-on-week energy availability factor (EAF) to rise sharply from 58.60% to 62.08%.<\/p>\n
EAF shows the percentage of time power stations were available for use when needed. It is a core measure of performance for any power utility.<\/p>\n
What is particularly impressive is that Eskom’s EAF showed a big improvement despite an increase in planned maintenance outages (PCLF) from 10.47% to 12.01%.<\/p>\n
Eskom’s improved performance aligns with comments from electricity minister Kgosientsho “Sputla” Ramokgopa and Eskom chair Mteto Nyati.<\/p>\n
Two weeks ago, Ramokgopa revealed that Eskom had achieved a daily energy availability factor (EAF) of over 65%.<\/p>\n
“This milestone validates the viability of the Eskom fleet of generation units and signifies the most efficient path to ending load shedding,” he said.<\/p>\n
Ramokgopa added that, given this performance’s proven success, the focus now shifts to maintaining and enhancing it.<\/p>\n
Nyati explained that the improved performance resulted from a plan for Eskom put together 18 months ago.<\/p>\n
“The plan was developed with management, presented to the Eskom board, and approved in March 2023,” he said.<\/p>\n
The plan focused on accelerating and executing planned maintenance. Eskom partnered with the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to do this maintenance.<\/p>\n
“When we take a plant down, we work with people with deep expertise about the equipment used at that plant,” Nyati said.<\/p>\n
The accelerated maintenance was conducted over the last twelve months, and it is now starting to show results.<\/p>\n
Nyati said the generation units returning to service are far more reliable than before, helping to limit load-shedding.<\/p>\n
He added that last Thursday, Eskom hit a record with 32,000 MW of available generation capacity. “This is much higher than the supply,” he said.<\/p>\n
The chart below, courtesy of Yelland and EE Business Intelligence<\/strong><\/a>, shows Eskom’s improved performance over the last week.<\/p>\n
\nEskom Unplanned Capability Loss Factor (UCLF)<\/h2>\n
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\nEskom Energy Availability Factor (EAF) – 2024 in green<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2-1.jpeg\")
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