November 1, 2008

Under construction in South Africa

By Sonal Patel

To overcome recent power shortfalls—and ensure they never occur again—Eskom is embarking on an immense infrastructure expansion program. The Build Programme, initiated in 2005, has been aligned with the government’s target of 6% GDP growth between 2010 and 2014, and estimates a 4% increase in electricity demand per year.

The utility’s ultimate goal is to deliver an additional 16,304 MW in generation capacity by 2017. This capacity is expected to double to about 80,000 MW by 2026. So far, the program has a board-approved budget of 343 billion rand ($43.1 billion) up to 2013. That budget is expected to grow to more than 1 trillion rand ($125.6 billion) by 2026. Eskom anticipates that generation projects will take up 73% of the budget, with transmission investment accounting for another 13%. The rest of the budget will fund distribution network improvements.

Return-to-service projects

Three previously mothballed coal-fired power plants—Camden (1,600 MW), Grootvlei (1,200 MW), and Komati (1,000 MW)—are being retuned to service after a period of almost 20 years in long-term storage. These stations are being recommissioned to meet the short- to medium-term growth in demand. Camden should be completed later this year. The Grootvlei plant, which has posed numerous challenges to the Eskom team trying to refurbish it, should fully enter commercial operation by the end of 2009. Komati will reenter service in 2010.

Medupi Power Station

This coal-fired baseload power station in Lephalale, Limpopo Province, will comprise six units rated, in total, at 4,788 MW installed capacity when fully completed in 2015 (see photo). These units are planned to be direct dry-cooled units such as those at Eskom’s Matimba power station in the same province. The unit’s construction was begun in April 2008. Hitachi and Alstom have been awarded the boiler and turbine contracts.

When it rains, it pours. With a name meaning “the rain that soaks parched land, giving economic relief,” Eskom has high hopes for the six-unit 4,788-MW Medupi power station it is currently building in South Africa’s northernmost Limpopo province. A second coal-fired project, the 4,818-MW Bravo power station, is also under way in the same region. Courtesy: Eskom