In a significant development for South Africa’s energy landscape, Eskom has successfully added the final unit of the Kusile Power Station Unit 6 to the national power grid, Cape {town} Etc reports.
This impressive 800MW boost was announced on Sunday and is heralded as a substantial achievement towards completing one of the country’s largest infrastructure projects as well as Eskom’s goal of adding 2 500MW of new capacity by March 2025.
Once all units are fully operational, Kusile will contribute a total of 4 800MW to the national grid, solidifying its status as South Africa’s largest infrastructure endeavour. The completion of Unit 6 not only marks a pivotal milestone in the Kusile project but also aligns with Eskom’s wider initiative to enhance energy security amid ongoing constraints within the electricity supply landscape.
Adding to the momentum, Unit 4 of the sister project, Medupi, is also set for resumption by the end of April 2025, expected to add another 800MW from an extended outage following a generator stator failure. With both projects nearing completion, South Africa stands on the brink of revitalising its power infrastructure.
What sets Kusile apart is its pioneering commitment to environmental sustainability through the implementation of Wet Flue Gas Desulphurisation (WFGD) technology, the first of its kind both in South Africa and across the African continent.
This initiative not only ensures compliance with stringent air quality standards but also aligns with global best practices aimed at reducing sulphur dioxide emissions.
The urgency of this development cannot be overstated. ‘Eskom is at a critical point returning megawatts to the grid as we are currently in a constrained state,’ said Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom’s Group Executive for Generation.
‘This milestone is a testament to the unwavering dedication and resilience of Eskom’s employees and contractors. Their commitment has driven us forward despite numerous challenges,’ Nxumalo added.
Eskom’s Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the importance of the addition of Kusile Unit 6 in stabilising South Africa’s electricity supply: ‘Meeting the targets we set in the Generation Recovery Plan underscores our determination to deliver new capacity, enhance generation performance, support economic growth, and ultimately deliver a more sustainable energy future.’
Marokane reaffirmed Eskom’s commitment to preventing a return to the severe loadshedding experienced in 2023, focusing on creating a more reliable power system for the nation.
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Picture: Eskom / Facebook
