Eskom's Marokane says loadshedding almost behind us after Medupi Unit 4 returns to service
Eskom successfully returns Medupi Unit 4 to service, adding 800MW to the national grid and marking a significant step towards operational stability and reduced loadshedding.
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South Africa’s electricity supply received a significant boost on Sunday evening after Eskom announced the successful return to service of Unit 4 at the Medupi Power Station, adding 800MW to the national grid.
Eskom stated that the return of the unit at 20:29 on Sunday marked a “major milestone” in its Generation Operational Recovery Plan and came eight months ahead of schedule thanks to strategic interventions.
“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,” said Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane.
“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,” Marokane added.
The unit had been offline since August 8, 2021, after suffering extensive damage during the explosion of its Generator Stator. In a bid to avoid further delays linked to the delivery time of a new stator, Eskom sourced a refurbished unit from the Netherlands.
Eskom said this innovative approach allowed engineers to restore the unit eight months ahead of schedule, thereby avoiding unnecessary costs. The Generator Stator, which weighs 400 tons, was transported approximately 1 000 km by road from Richards Bay to the Medupi site by Eskom Rotek Industries.
“Eskom applauds the Medupi team, support staff, and all execution partners for their dedication and professionalism,” said Eskom Group Executive for Generation, Bheki Nxumalo.
“Their achievement serves as a motivation for our teams as we advance our recovery efforts.”
With the return of Unit 4, all six units at Medupi are now operational, collectively contributing 4 800MW once Unit 4 reaches full output in the coming weeks.
Medupi Power Station, located in Lephalale, Limpopo, is one of the world’s largest dry-cooled, coal-fired power plants and plays a key role in Eskom’s strategy to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
“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,” said Marokane.
Eskom said Medupi continues to support local development, having invested over R2.9 billion in socio-economic initiatives and corporate social investment programmes benefiting over 80 000 people.