Major Boost to South Africa’s Energy Security as Medupi Unit 4 Returns to Service
In a significant milestone for South Africa’s energy landscape, Eskom has announced the successful return to service of Unit 4 at the Medupi Power Station, adding a substantial 800MW to the national grid. This achievement not only strengthens the country’s energy security but also enhances the stability of electricity supply, marking a crucial step towards overcoming the challenges of load shedding.
The unit’s return to service follows extensive repairs, completed an impressive eight months ahead of schedule. This was made possible by the innovative use of a refurbished Generator Stator, sourced from the Netherlands as an interim solution to avoid costly delays associated with waiting for a brand-new component. The unit had been out of service since August 2021, after sustaining significant damage from the explosion of its Generator Stator, a key component in the operation of the generation unit.
According to Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane, "The return of Medupi Unit 4 marks a major milestone in our strategic objective of achieving operational stability through the addition of 2 500MW to the grid." Marokane emphasized Eskom’s commitment to its Operational Excellence Programme, which focuses on restoring performance, strengthening oversight, and ensuring accountability from service providers. This development reflects the progress of the Generation Operational Recovery Plan, central to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the broader economy.
With all six units at Medupi now operational, the power station will contribute a combined capacity of 4 800MW to the national grid once Unit 4 reaches full output in the coming weeks. This significant increase in power generation capacity is expected to play a vital role in supporting South Africa’s economic growth and development. Eskom Group Executive for Generation, Bheki Nxumalo, applauded the Medupi team, support staff, and execution partners for their dedication and professionalism, highlighting the daunting task of safely transporting the 400-tonne Generator Stator approximately 1 000km by road from Richards Bay to the power station.
The Medupi Power Station, located in Lephalale, Limpopo, is one of the world’s largest dry-cooled, coal-fired power plants, featuring advanced supercritical technology that improves efficiency while reducing coal and water consumption. The station is designed to recycle and reuse all water involved in the power generation process on-site and is equipped with low nitrogen oxide (NOx) burners to minimize NOx emissions. Additionally, Medupi has been designed to accommodate future installation of flue gas desulphurisation technology, which will cut sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions by more than 90%, further enhancing its environmental performance.
As South Africa continues to build a more reliable, resilient, and sustainable power system, the return of Medupi Unit 4 serves as a significant step towards achieving energy security and stability. With its strong focus on socio-economic development and corporate social investment, Medupi has already made a positive impact on local communities, with over R2.9 billion invested in initiatives aimed at addressing urgent needs and benefiting over 80 000 people. As the country moves forward, the successful return of Medupi Unit 4 is a testament to the progress being made towards a brighter, more sustainable energy future.
