Latest news with #Marokane
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.
The Citizen
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Medupi Unit 4's early return strengthens SA's energy security
Eskom has announced that Unit 4 of the Medupi Power Station has been successfully returned to service, adding 800MW to the national grid. This milestone strengthens South Africa's energy security and enhances the stability of electricity supply. '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 August 8, 2021 after sustaining significant damage from the explosion of its generator stator, a key component in the operation of the generation unit,' said Eskom in a statement. 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. 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. Eskom group chief executive Dan Marokane said: '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.' He said the development once again reflected the progress of the 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 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. Eskom group executive for generation Bheki Nxumalo said: '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.' Medupi Power Station, located in Lephalale in Limpopo, holds the distinction of being one of the world's largest dry-cooled, coal-fired power plants. As one of the newest additions to Eskom's fleet, Medupi features advanced supercritical technology that allows it to operate at higher temperatures, improving efficiency while reducing both coal and water consumption, an essential advantage in a water-scarce region. The station is designed to recycle and reuse all water involved in the power generation process on-site. It is also equipped with low nitrogen oxide (NOₓ) burners to minimise NOₓ emissions. Additionally, Medupi has been designed to accommodate future installation of flue gas desulphurisation technology, which will cut sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions by more than 90%, further enhancing its environmental performance. Medupi continues to play a vital role in supporting South Africa's economic growth and development. During its construction, Eskom invested over R2.9b in socio-economic development initiatives aimed at addressing urgent needs within 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 healthcare infrastructure. – 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!
The South African
03-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
Eskom tightens security after prepaid token fraud
Eskom has announced decisive measures to tighten its digital and physical security following a breach in its Online Vending System (OVS), which was used to issue fraudulent prepaid electricity tokens. The power utility revealed the update on Wednesday, as it moves to restore public trust after the incident exposed significant flaws in its infrastructure. 'We are fully aware of the challenges that have emerged within the OVS environment,' said Eskom CEO Dan Marokane. 'We have taken clear steps to address them.' Last year, a forensic report uncovered how the system was manipulated to generate and distribute fake tokens. The breach raised alarm about both physical and cybersecurity weaknesses in Eskom's prepaid electricity platform. Marokane stressed that Eskom's response goes beyond a technical repair. 'Our focus is on restoring trust, strengthening our systems, and ensuring that our customers can rely on a secure and efficient service,' he said. 'This is not just a technical fix, it is part of a broader commitment to transparency, operational excellence and accountability.' Eskom has rolled out several internal controls to prevent future incidents. These include measures to restrict digital and physical access to key systems and reinforced infrastructure to better guard against tampering. The utility confirmed that some employees linked to the breach have been placed on precautionary suspension while investigations continue. Eskom is also working with law enforcement to pursue criminal charges where appropriate. '[We are] accelerating the acquisition of a new, secure vending system,' said Marokane. 'It's designed to replace the current OVS and prevent future incidents.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Daily Maverick
10-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
R257bn for Eskom to meet minimum requirements, aims for 40% emissions reduction by 2030
The power utility said it planned to achieve a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030 at the fleet level. Its preferred approach would cost R77bn in capital expenditure and R2.1bn in annual operational expenditure. Eskom CEO Dan Marokane says it will cost the South African taxpayer up to R257-billion for the utility to do the necessary upgrades for it to meet government-mandated minimum emission standards. Compliance, in this way, could translate into the equivalent of up to a 10% tariff increase. He and members of Eskom's executive were briefing Parliament's Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources on Tuesday, 10 June, in Cape Town. The briefing outlined the financial costs, the direct threat to the nation's power supply and the significant potential disruption to electricity supply that would come as a consequence of the legally mandated environmental regulations. Eskom's team put a figure of about R257-billion in capital expenditure (Capex) on what it would take to achieve full compliance with minimum emission standards across six of its major power stations, namely Medupi, Majuba, Matimba, Kendal, Lethabo and Tutuka. This would also incur R6.3-billion in annual operating costs (Opex). To date, Eskom has spent more than R3-billion on emission abatement projects, with an additional R15.6-billion allocated over the next five years. In March, Daily Maverick reported that Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dion George granted Eskom limited exemptions from minimum emission standards for eight of Eskom's coal-fired power stations. Two power stations, Duvha and Matla, were granted nine-year minimum emission standards exemptions until their planned decommissioning dates in 2034. Six other power stations were granted five-year minimum emission standards exemptions until 1 April 2030. These are Kendal, Lethabo, Majuba, Matimba, Medupi and Tutuka. Marokane said the implications of compliance with the emissions standards extended beyond the financial. Up to 22 gigawatts (GW) of the coal fleet's generating capacity is 'at risk' of being shut down if it cannot comply with the stringent post-2030 standards for sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions, which, while beneficial from an environmental perspective, could imperil the progress Eskom has made in taming load shedding should that capacity not be replaced accordingly. This risk materialises after that 1 April 2030 deadline, when the exemptions granted for several stations expire. Given that retrofitting the necessary Flue Gas Desulphurisation technology takes 7-10 years, decisions are needed now to avert this cliff-edge scenario. Eskom, Marokane told members of the committee, was of the view that its preferred approach was not full compliance but instead, it would focus on SO2 reduction at its newest plants, Kusile and Medupi, and complete particulate matter and nitrogen oxide upgrades at six stations. This path would cost R77-billion in Capex and R2.1-billion in annual Opex. However, as was noted by members of the committee, even this 'cheaper' option was severely underfunded, as mentioned above, with R15.6-billion allocated over the next five years. Moreover, Marokane explained, Eskom intends to expand its 'clean energy capacity' and 'optimise the existing coal fleet' to meet a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030 at the 'fleet level'. This means that the coal station fleet in aggregate would see a 40% reduction in emissions, but this would be unevenly distributed from station to station because some of the newer stations may see their production ramp up to compensate for the shutdown of older stations. Health costs While Eskom's briefing touched on the socioeconomic consequences of plant shutdowns, such as the impact on 14,000 direct jobs, it did not provide an assessment of the direct health costs and mortality associated with its emissions. This gap was highlighted by a recent report titled Unmasking the Toll of Fine Particle Pollution in South Africa. That report by Greenpeace Africa and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found that in 2023 alone, 42,000 South Africans died from exposure to fine particle pollution (PM2.5), including more than 1,300 children under five. It combined PM2.5 concentrations (sourced from satellite data, ground monitoring and atmospheric models) with population and health data from the Global Burden of Disease database to calculate health impacts. PM2.5 refers to airborne particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres, mainly formed by burning coal and fuel. Daily Maverick wrote that the report estimates that PM2.5 pollution cost the country more than R960-billion in 2023 – equivalent to 14% of GDP – through premature deaths, illness, lost productivity and overburdened health systems. These particles, as CREA analyst Lauri Myllyvirta previously explained to Daily Maverick, are 'small enough to pass from lungs to the bloodstream and wreak havoc on all our internal organs'. Communities in the Highveld region and Gauteng and Mpumalanga, which are home to the country's largest coal-fired power plants and industrial zones, are hardest hit. Briefing the committee on Tuesday, Deidre Herbst, senior manager for environmental management in Eskom's Generation Division, confirmed particulate matter's deleterious impact. While sulphur dioxide was the 'biggest challenge', particulate matter caused the most harmful health impacts, she explained. DM DM
The South African
28-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
A flicker of light for Eskom, but load shedding still a risk
Fitch Ratings has affirmed Eskom's long-term credit rating and upgraded its Standalone Credit Profile (SCP) from 'ccc-' to 'ccc+'. This signals improving operations and finances, which is positive news. A CCC+ rating simply means that the company is still in a very risky financial position, but it's doing slightly better than before. It's a small step up, but it still signals that there's a real chance it could struggle to pay its debts. Fitch upgraded Eskom's credit rating because the company has improved its operations and expects to see a significant rise in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) from 2025 to 2029. This indicates that Eskom's generation units are performing better, which is important after years of poor performance and frequent blackouts. The agency has confirmed Eskom's long-term local currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) is at 'B' with a stable outlook. It also confirmed Eskom's senior unsecured debt rating at 'B' (with a Recovery Rating of 'RR4') and its senior unsecured guaranteed debt at 'BB-'. This shows increased confidence in Eskom's operations and its strong relationship with the government. Eskom's Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane, welcomed the news that Fitch has affirmed and improved the power utility's credit rating. He said this shows Eskom's commitment to improving its financial and operational performance. Marokane emphasised that the company's main goal is to reduce its dependence on government support by working towards long-term financial stability. This development brings some hope that the end of Eskom's load shedding may be getting closer, but there are still many challenges ahead. Remaining Challenges and Public Impact A recent upgrade in Eskom's credit rating shows some progress in its recovery efforts. This upgrade suggests that investor confidence is improving. However, the positive impact on the public will depend on better electricity delivery, less reliance on government support, and clear improvements in service performance. Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
