Following the outcome of a review by a professional body which was contracted to conduct a risk assessment on the structural integrity of the ash dam, Eskom
has decided to temporarily shut down operations at the Camden power station from 24 April.
The contractor concluded that the current dam has reached its maximum height and therefore it poses a safety risk to all personnel on-site, including neighbouring communities and could also be a cause for environmental contravention if not attended to.
In light of the above, all running operations have been suspended until such time that an alternative solution has been developed and implemented.
This process may take up to three months, including moving of 795 000 cubic meters of ash to lower-lying areas.
During this process, all technical principles will be applied in terms of safeguarding and preserving the generation units.
Eskom will use this downtime to conduct intensive maintenance at the power station they stated in a press release.
