Video Credit: MyBroadband
- Unit 4 of Medupi Power Station experienced an explosion on the generator at approximately 22h50 last Sunday night.
- This explosion has resulted in extensive damage to the generator.
- The 4764MW Medupi coal fired power plant only recently achieved full commercial operation status. Read more
The incident occurred during the activity to displace hydrogen with carbon dioxide and air respectively, for the purposes of finding an external leak. Fortunately no injuries were sustained by personnel who were on site during the unfortunate incidents.
Following the power station preliminary investigation, it appears that while performing this activity air was introduced into the generator at a point where hydrogen was still present in the generator at sufficient quantities to create an explosive mixture, which ignited and resulted in the explosion. It also appears that there was a deviation from the procedure for carrying out this activity.
Related news: Eskom Opens Criminal Case After Medupi Explosion
As such Eskom has undertaken to place those employees who were responsible to manage and execute this work under precautionary suspension pending the conclusion of the Major Event Investigation.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
