Daily News Articles for the Energy Sector, 2008

Eskom, today, turned the first sod for the second coal-fired power station to be built and completed by 2017. The new power plant, named Kusile Power Station, is situated close to the existing Kendal Power Station in the Witbank area of the Mpumalanga Province and will consist of six units that will generate approximately 4 800 MW. The first generating unit is scheduled for completion by 2013, followed by the completion of an additional unit after every eight months.

“Two years ago, Eskom revised its electricity growth projection from 2,3% to 4% per annum. The upward revision of the electricity demand growth to 4% was required to align to government’s target of a 6% GDP growth between 2010 and 2014. Kusile Power Station had to be brought forward as a result of the revised plan. Today, I’m pleased to confirm that the construction of this new power station is on schedule”, says Jacob Maroga, Eskom’s Chief Executive.

Anglo Coal South Africa, through its empowerment subsidiary, Anglo Inyosi, will supply the required coal for the life of the station. The coal, which will be transported by conveyer belt, will be supplied from the nearby New Largo Reserve with supporting coal from the Zondagsfontein reserve.

Kusile Power Station will be the first power station in South Africa to have flue gas desulphurization (FGD) installed. FGD is the state-of-the art technology used to remove oxides of sulphur (SOx), e.g. sulphur dioxide (SO2), from the exhaust flue gases in power plants that burn coal. Eskom is fitting FGD to the Kusile plant as an atmosheric emmission abatement technology to ensure compliance with air quality standards.

Kusile is Eskom’s second most advanced coal project after Medupi Power Station which is currently being built in Limpopo. Construction activity at this new station site started in April 2008.

“In the next 18 months, the construction of this new power station will create up to 5 000 jobs and will peak to 8 000. We estimate that some 7 000 beds will be required, along with 21 000 meals per day to cater for the construction workers at the peak of the construction activities”, says Maroga.