In a significant advancement for South Africa’s energy sector, Eskom has successfully synchronized Unit 5 at the Kusile Power Station Project, marking a key milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen its energy infrastructure. The synchronization, announced by Eskom on December 31 at approximately 5 pm, is a pivotal step towards enhancing the nation’s power capabilities.
The synchronized unit is now poised to undergo a comprehensive testing and optimization phase over the next six months before being officially integrated into commercial operation.
This achievement holds great significance for South Africa as the newly synchronized Kusile Unit 5 is expected to contribute an additional 800MW to the national grid. This expansion surpasses Eskom’s initial grid capabilities, providing a substantial boost to the country’s power capacity.
Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom’s Group Executive for Generation, expressed his satisfaction with this accomplishment and highlighted its importance in the broader context of the Generation Recovery Plan. Nxumalo emphasized that the synchronization of Kusile Unit 5 is a crucial step towards improving generation performance, contributing much-needed power to the grid.
Since September 2023, Eskom has made notable progress, bringing three units back online and adding a total of 3,200MW to the grid. This, combined with ongoing efforts to enhance Eskom’s energy availability factor (EAF), showcases the utility’s commitment to strengthening the country’s electricity capacity.
Calib Cassim, Eskom’s Acting Group Chief Executive, echoed the positive sentiment, emphasizing the significant role Kusile Unit 5 plays in powering South Africa’s economy. He underscored Eskom’s dedication to maintaining progress on the new build program and the Generation Recovery Plan, aiming to reduce the impact of load shedding and decrease the reliance on diesel-powered plants.
Looking ahead, Eskom provided an update on the Kusile Power Station Project, revealing that Unit 6 is currently undergoing construction and commissioning activities. Once completed, the station, comprising six units and capable of producing a maximum of 4,800MW, will be South Africa’s largest construction project and the world’s fourth-largest coal plant.
Eskom also emphasized its commitment to environmental responsibility by incorporating wet flue gas desulphurisation (WFGD) emissions abatement technology at Kusile. This technology makes Kusile the first power station in South Africa and Africa to utilize WFGD, aligning with international air quality standards by removing sulphur dioxide from flue gas before discharge.
Ending on a positive note, Eskom shared updates on repair works for the permanent stack of units 1, 2, and 3, indicating progress. Additionally, intensified efforts are underway to return Medupi Unit 4 to service by the end of July 2024. These developments, coupled with the successful completion of Kusile Unit 5 and the return of the three Kusile units, are expected to further enhance energy availability and propel Eskom’s Generation Recovery Plan forward.