The resumption of Johannesburg’s delayed Egoli Gas supply was expected to be back on line on Friday between 1pm and 2pm, the utility said on Friday.
The company ran out of gas midmorning after supplies from Sasol were interrupted due to a technical problem there. It had hoped to be back on line by noon.
The gas authority earlier on Friday issued an urgent warning to users to check that their gas is switched off.
At least eight hospitals had to be alerted on Thursday night to enable them to switch to their diesel back-up systems for their hot water, sterilisation processes and for preparing meals, said an Egoli Gas spokesperson.
One hospital that was unable to make the switch was given supplies from Egoli Gas’s storage tanks.
This facility was also pumping gas to households but was expected to run out by 9am. It supplied gas to about 8 000 households and about 2 000 businesses over the utility’s 1 200km infrastructure in the older parts of the city.
This area stretches from Rosebank and Hyde Park Corner in the north to Bruma in the east, Harrietdale and Robertsham in the south and Cresta in the west.
”When the water goes off, people open the taps on full to check if there’s water but then forget to turn them off again. The same happens with gas,” warned the Egoli Gas spokesperson.
”It is very important that people make sure their gas is switched off and if they forgot, they must ventilate their rooms and keep flames away.”
He said Sasol spikes the gas with a strong smelling odoriser to alert people to their gas being turned on.
”If they smell it, they must immediately open their windows and doors.” — Sapa