Power stations stay
“After consultation with the Department of Public Enterprises and other stakeholders, Eskom has decided to revert to its initial position of extending the lives of its ageing power generating fleet."
Kriel -, Komati -, Hendrina -, Camden -and Grootvlei Power Stations are safe.
Eskom decided not to close the five power stations.
“After consultation with the Department of Public Enterprises and other stakeholders, Eskom has decided to revert to its initial position of extending the lives of its ageing power generating fleet. This move will ensure that the jobs of the Eskom employees and those of the miners will be secured,” the power utility said in a press statement.
Eskom sowed panic when they announced in March that the power stations will be decommissioned.
Hendrina Power Station situated between Middelburg and Bethal, at the time it was built, it was the largest station to be designed by the Electricity Supply Commission, with an ultimate generating capacity of 2 000MW, consisting of ten 200 MW machines. In November 1965 the first four machines were placed on order for commissioning in 1970, to supply the bulk of the increase in generation capacity required at that stage. The first unit went into operation in 1970 and the last in 1976.
One of the old dames, Komati Power Station’s history stretches back as far as 1950 when planning for it started on the farm Koornfontein. The power station’s last unit was commissioned in 1966.
During the mid 80’s a decision was made to take out units and later the entire power station was out of service, mainly because of surplus capacity, increasing maintenance cost and to enable Eskom to put newly built power stations, such as Majuba, into commercial service.
Kriel power station will not be decommissioned.
As demand for electricity increased, a decision was taken in 2000 to return Komati Power Station into service.
Komati Power Station is nestled between Middelburg, Bethal and eMalahleni.
The planning and design of Kriel Power Station began in the early 1970’s. The power station began operating at full capacity early 1979. When Kriel was completed in 1979, it was the largest coal-fired station in the Southern Hemisphere.
Kriel was instrumental in breaking ground for the large 3600 MW power stations such as Duvha -, Matla -, Kendal -, Matimba – and Lethabo Power Stations. It was one of the first stations to be supplied with coal from a fully mechanised coal mine, with the coal arriving at the boilers from the mine.
Kriel is unique in that each turbine generator set is separate, whereas in Eskom’s other stations, all the turbines are housed in a single turbine hall, all placed along the same axis.
Kriel Power Station generates 3000 MW.
Just a bit over 130km away, close to Ermelo, is the majestic Camden Power Station.
Camden’s first unit was commissioned in April 1967. The station’s eight units were mothballed in 1990. Camden was the starting point of the national power grid consisting of a series of 400kV lines which today interconnect the entire country. Camden was again called onto the field in 2003.
Grootvlei became distinguished for its units five and six that were the first test facilities for dry cooling in South Africa. Unit six has an indirect dry cooling system.
This power station situated near Balfour was built in the late 1960’s and was shut down in 1990 and then mothballed. There is so much history and ground breaking methods intertwined in the fascinating working of these power stations.The workers and contractors are letting out a sigh of relief as they know that their jobs are secured for the next few years.
ALSO READ:
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/88663/power-stations-make-way-renewable-products/
https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/83749/kusiles-first-unit-is-on-the-grid/
