Eskom has returned Medupi Unit 4 to service, adding 800 MW back to the grid. The unit was damaged in an explosion in August 2021 and was offline since then.
The utility says repairs were completed eight months ahead of schedule. However, earlier statements by the Ministry of Electricity and Energy indicated the unit would be operational by early 2024.
The damage occurred when the unit’s generator stator exploded. The incident was triggered during a short-term outage when workers investigating an external leak displaced hydrogen with carbon dioxide and air. Air entered the generator while hydrogen was still present in sufficient quantities to ignite. Eskom later confirmed that standard procedures were not followed.
A new generator stator was required to complete the repairs. To avoid further delays and high costs, Eskom opted to purchase a refurbished stator from the Netherlands as an interim solution.
While Eskom maintains the project finished ahead of schedule, Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa announced the plan to procure the refurbished component and accelerate reintegration in a May 2023 update on the Energy Action Plan. At the time, he said the unit would be operational by early 2024.
With all six units now running, Medupi has restored its full capacity of 4 800 MW, making it one of the largest coal-fired power stations in the world.
“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 1 000 km by road from Richards Bay to the power station – accomplished by Eskom Rotek Industries,” said Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom’s Group Executive for Generation.