- Eskom has announce that Unit 4 of the Medupi Power Station was successfully returned to service, adding 800MW to the national grid.
- The unit’s return follows extensive repairs, completed eight months ahead of the original schedule, made possible by the innovative use of a refurbished Generator Stator, an alternative to waiting for a brand-new component.
The unit had been out of service since 8 August 2021 after sustaining significant damage from the explosion of its Generator Stator, a key component in the operation of the generation unit.
The aftermath of the internal hydrogen explosion within the 800 MW generator of Unit 4 at Medupi Power Station. Image credit: Chris Yelland – Twitter
As part of the Generation Operational Recovery Plan, Eskom’s engineering teams implemented strategic measures to cost effectively fast-track the unit’s return. To avoid the costly delays associated with the lengthy delivery time of a new Generator Stator, Eskom sourced a used stator from the Netherlands as an interim solution, enabling the early return to service of Medupi Unit 4.
Eskom has not disclosed what caused the explosion and the cost of repairs, or if an insurance claim was made.
With the return of Unit 4, all six units at Medupi are now operational and will contribute a combined capacity of 4 800MW to the national grid once the unit reaches full output in the coming weeks.
“The return of Medupi Unit 4 marks a major milestone in our strategic objective of achieving operational stability through the addition of 2 500MW to the grid and Eskom remains committed to its Operational Excellence Programme, which focuses on restoring performance, strengthening oversight, and ensuring accountability from service providers,” said Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane.
“Today’s developments once again reflect the progress of our Generation Operational Recovery Plan, which is central to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the broader economy. This achievement moves us closer to consistently overcoming loadshedding, which is now largely behind us due to structural improvements in the generation fleet, as we continue to build a more reliable, resilient, and sustainable power system,” concluded Marokane.
“Eskom applauds the Medupi team, support staff, and all execution partners for their dedication and professionalism, including the daunting task of safely transporting the 400-tonne Generator Stator approximately 1 000km by road from Richards Bay to the power station, a feat accomplished by Eskom Rotek Industries. Their achievement serves as a motivation for our teams as we advance our recovery efforts. We are confident that, like the other units, Unit 4 will deliver stable electricity to the national grid, enhancing South Africa’s energy security,” said Eskom Group Executive for Generation, Bheki Nxumalo.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
