Latest news with #EskomGroup
TimesLIVE
08-07-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
'A soaking rain': Medupi unit 4 returns to service eight months ahead of schedule
Eskom has announced that after nearly four years offline, Unit 4 of the Medupi Power Station is officially back online, eight months ahead of schedule and adding a much-needed 800MW to the national grid. 'Eskom is pleased to announce that Unit 4 of the Medupi Power Station was successfully returned to service today at 8.29pm, adding 800MW to the national grid. This milestone strengthens South Africa's energy security and enhances the stability of electricity supply,' the power utility said in a statement on Monday. The unit had been offline since August 8 2021, after a catastrophic explosion that destroyed its generator stator. The early return was made possible through what Eskom calls 'strategic, cost-effective measures', including the sourcing of a refurbished generator stator from the Netherlands. '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,' said the utility. The refurbished component was transported about 1,000km by road from Richards Bay to the Limpopo-based station, a logistical feat accomplished by Eskom Rotek Industries. '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,' said Eskom. Eskom Group CEO Dan Marokane hailed the return of the unit as a major milestone in the utility's broader strategy to stabilise energy supply. 'This achievement moves us closer to consistently overcoming load-shedding, 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,' said Marokane. He added that the success reflected steady progress in Eskom's Generation Operational Recovery Plan, which aims to improve long-term energy availability. Despite recent weeks of relief from rolling blackouts, Eskom reiterated that load-shedding could return if unplanned breakdowns climb above 13,000MW. According to its winter outlook published on May 5, no load-shedding is expected if breakdowns remain under the threshold. However, should unplanned outages reach 15,000MW, the country could face up to 21 days of stage 2 load-shedding during winter. Eskom Group Executive for Generation Bheki Nxumalo praised the teams involved in the repairs. '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-ton generator stator. Their achievement serves as a motivation for our teams as we advance our recovery efforts,' said Nxumalo. Medupi Power Station, located in Lephalale, Limpopo, is one of the world's largest dry-cooled, coal-fired plants. It uses advanced supercritical technology to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact, particularly critical in water-scarce regions. The station is also built with environmental considerations, including low nitrogen oxide burners and infrastructure that allows for future installation of flue gas desulphurisation technology, which will cut sulphur dioxide emissions by over 90%. 'True to its name meaning 'rain that soaks parched lands, bringing economic relief' Medupi continues to play a vital role in supporting South Africa's economic growth and development,' said Eskom. Eskom said during its construction over R2.9bn was invested in socioeconomic development in local communities. 'Since its inception, more than R145m has been allocated to corporate social investment programmes, benefiting over 80,000 people, with a strong focus on rural development, education and health care infrastructure,' said Eskom.
IOL News
07-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Eskom boosts national grid with successful return of Medupi Unit 4
Eskom proudly announces the successful return of Medupi Unit 4, enhancing national electricity supply by 800MW. Image: Supplied Eskom has achieved a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to stabilise South Africa's electricity supply, as the utility proudly announced that Unit 4 of the Medupi Power Station has been successfully returned to service. The Medupi Power Station, located in Lephalale in South Africa's Limpopo province, holds thedistinction of being one of the world's largest dry-cooled, coal-fired power plant The unit, which is now operational, adds an impressive 800MW to the national grid, further reinforcing the country's energy security. The return of Unit 4 follows extensive repairs and a strategic approach that allowed it to come back online a remarkable eight months ahead of the original schedule. This expedited process was made possible through the innovative use of a refurbished Generator Stator, which served as an alternative to waiting for a brand-new component, thereby avoiding costly delays. Unit 4 had been out of service since 8 August 2021, after suffering substantial damage from the explosion of its original Generator Stator. This critical failure prompted Eskom's engineering teams to formulate a Generation Operational Recovery Plan that focused on cost-effective and timely solutions. By sourcing a used stator from the Netherlands and implementing strategic measures, Eskom overcame the long delivery times associated with new parts and successfully fast-tracked the unit's return to operational capacity. With the reinstatement of Unit 4, all six units at the Medupi Power Station are now fully operational, poised to deliver a combined capacity of 4 800MW to the national grid as each unit reaches its full output in the coming weeks. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ According to Eskom Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane, this corrective measure is integral to their overarching goal of achieving operational stability and adding a total of 2 500MW to the grid. '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,' he said. Eskom also extended its appreciation to the Medupi team, support staff, and all execution partners for their professionalism and commitment throughout this endeavour. In particular, the successful and safe transportation of the 400-tonne Generator Stator, spanning approximately 1 000km by road from Richards Bay to the power station, was a notable highlight, achieved through the dedicated efforts of Eskom Rotek Industries. Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom Group Executive for Generation, noted that the successful return of Unit 4 serves as a motivational achievement for their teams, reinforcing confidence in the reliability of Eskom's power supply moving forward. IOL
The Citizen
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Eskom strengthens system against fraudulent tokens generation
State power utility Eskom says it has taken several steps to strengthen its systems against potential threats related to the generation of fraudulent prepaid tokens. In December 2024, the power utility disclosed, as part of its full-year 2024 financial results, a forensic report detailing the breach of its Online Vending System (OVS). 'The system was exploited to generate and distribute fraudulent prepaid electricity tokens, revealing critical vulnerabilities in both the physical and cybersecurity components of the utility's prepaid electricity infrastructure. 'In response, Eskom undertook a comprehensive review and intervention strategy aimed at mitigating these vulnerabilities and restoring system integrity,' Eskom said in a statement. Eskom Chief Technology and Information Officer, Len De Villiers, said the power utility has 'successfully strengthened the protection of its current systems against potential threats'. 'All system enhancements are managed through a robust Change Management process that spans all divisions, ensuring consistent oversight and control. These measures are part of Eskom's ongoing commitment to safeguarding operations and addressing identified vulnerabilities,' De Villiers said. The latest key actions implemented include: Internal controls to deal with electricity theft have been implemented. Measures to safeguard the system by reinforcing physical infrastructure and limiting both physical and digital access. Enhanced monitoring capabilities to ensure transparency and timely reporting. On-going collaboration with law enforcement agencies to support investigations and ensure accountability. As part of this process, internal employees who have been implicated have been placed on precautionary suspension pending further review. Augmented in-house capabilities, supported by an external Information Technology (IT) firm tasked to better manage risks and safeguard operations. Coordinated system upgrades through a structured change management process. Regular reporting to the Eskom Board, which has maintained oversight throughout the remediation process. Accelerated acquisition of a new. secure vending system, designed to replace the current OVS and prevent future incidents. Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane, said: 'We are fully aware of the challenges that have emerged within the OVS environment, and we have taken clear steps to address them. 'Our focus is on restoring trust, strengthening our systems, and ensuring that our customers can rely on a secure and efficient service. This is not just a technical fix, it is part of a broader commitment to transparency, operational excellence and accountability.' Eskom, in conjunction with law enforcement, is investigating with the findings to be disclosed once complete. – At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Eskom boosts cybersecurity after breach exposed flaws in prepaid token system
State power utility Eskom says it has taken several steps to strengthen its systems against potential threats related to the generation of fraudulent prepaid tokens. In December 2024, the power utility disclosed, as part of its full-year 2024 financial results, a forensic report detailing the breach of its Online Vending System (OVS). 'The system was exploited to generate and distribute fraudulent prepaid electricity tokens, revealing critical vulnerabilities in both the physical and cybersecurity components of the utility's prepaid electricity infrastructure. 'In response, Eskom undertook a comprehensive review and intervention strategy aimed at mitigating these vulnerabilities and restoring system integrity,' Eskom said in a statement. Eskom Chief Technology and Information Officer Len De Villiers says the power utility has 'successfully strengthened the protection of its current systems against potential threats'. 'All system enhancements are managed through a robust change management process that spans all divisions, ensuring consistent oversight and control. These measures are part of Eskom's ongoing commitment to safeguarding operations and addressing identified vulnerabilities,' De Villiers says. The latest key actions implemented include: Internal controls to deal with electricity theft have been implemented Measures to safeguard the system by reinforcing physical infrastructure and limiting both physical and digital access Enhanced monitoring capabilities to ensure transparency and timely reporting Ongoing collaboration with law enforcement agencies to support investigations and ensure accountability. As part of this process, internal employees who have been implicated have been placed on precautionary suspension pending further review Augmented in-house capabilities, supported by an external information technology firm tasked to better manage risks and safeguard operations Co-ordinated system upgrades through a structured change management process Regular reporting to the Eskom Board, which has maintained oversight throughout the remediation process Accelerated acquisition of a new, secure vending system, designed to replace the current OVS and prevent future incidents. Eskom Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane said: 'We are fully aware of the challenges that have emerged within the OVS environment, and we have taken clear steps to address them. 'Our focus is on restoring trust, strengthening our systems, and ensuring that our customers can rely on a secure and efficient service. This is not just a technical fix, it is part of a broader commitment to transparency, operational excellence and accountability.' Eskom, in conjunction with law enforcement, is investigating, with the findings to be disclosed once complete. – Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
R93 million Locomotive Deal: MK Party claims political retaliation in Molefe, Gama case
Former Eskom Group CEO and now Member of Parliament, Brian Molefe, together with former Transnet Group CEO, Siyabonga Gama, appeared in the Palm Ridge magistrate court on Monday. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has come out in firm support of its senior MPs, Brian Molefe and Siyabonga Gama, after their recent arrests linked to alleged corruption during their tenures as CEOs at Transnet. The pair appeared in the Palm Ridge magistrate court on Monday along with the other two in connection with serious fraud, corruption, and money laundering charges arising from a controversial R93 million locomotive deal. The party said the arrests raise serious questions about the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) impartiality. In a sharply worded voice clip, MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela accused the justice system of engaging in what he described as 'a troubling pattern of retaliation' against party members who have held state institutions to account. While affirming the principle of equality before the law, Ndhlela questioned what he called the 'uneven application of justice.' 'It is increasingly evident that when the MK Party challenges institutions captured or influenced by narrow political interests, our members become targets,' he said. The party also expressed deep concern over what it views as a broader pattern of selective prosecution, particularly aimed at black professionals and intellectuals affiliated with the MK Party who previously held strategic positions within key state-owned enterprises. This is not just about Molefe and Gama. It's about a consistent attack on individuals who have dared to challenge the status quo, according to Ndhlela. He drew parallels with the party's president, who, he claimed, continues to face legal harassment without due process rooted in fairness or constitutional justice. Calling for an independent and apolitical legal process, the MKP reaffirmed its commitment to defending democratic values and warned against any attempts to subvert the will of the people. 'We will not be silent in the face of injustice,' Ndhlela said. 'Our struggle for an impartial justice system continues.' IOL Politics
