Eskom has announced that its second last generation unit went into commercial operation yesterday afternoon. Once completed, the Limpopo-based power station will be the world’s fourth largest dry-cooled station, comprising six units designated to generate 4800MW of power to the South African power grid.
Unit two joins four other units which are in commercial operation already, each contributing a total of 4000 megawatts to the national electricity grid.
One more unit is yet to be commercialised.
President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Medupi with Deputy President David Mabuza and public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan.
While addressing employees, Ramaphosa said that the costs involved were more than expected. “We owe a lot of money but we will continue to support Eskom for it to prevail. It’s going to continue being owned by government.”
He confirmed that all units would be fully operational by next year, 12 years after construction at Medupi commenced in May 2007.
