Question NW1964 to the Minister in The Presidency for Electricity
09 June 2023 - NW1964
Herron, Mr BN to ask the Minister in The Presidency for Electricity
(1)Considering that he recently visited the Kusile Power Station to follow up on the progress of the specified power station after it initially reported that several units were broken down and needed to be upgraded and fixed as part of his plan to reduce load shedding, (a) what were the specified issues and (b) has the initial shortcomings and issues been addressed at the power station; (2) What is the status of the four units that were out of order during the last visit; (3) What is the short-term plan to keep the specified units running at an optimal capacity?
Reply:
(1)- (2) & (3) On the 23rd of October 2022, a section of the Kusile Unit 1 flue gas duct (the equivalent of a chimney in a household) exiting the sulphur dioxide absorber failed on the horizontal rubber expansion joint as well as the compensator (a bend to direct flue gas up the chimney that allows for thermal expansion of the chimney) whilst the unit was on forced shutdown for Flue Gas De-sulphuration recirculating pump repairs. The failure at Unit 1 subsequently affected units 2 and 3 as the ducts for all these three units are welded together.
ESKOM is currently fabricating and erecting temporary stacks at Kusile Power Station to enable operation of the three units without the use of the Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) mechanism which is an emission-abatement technology, for a period of 13 months while the flue gas ducts are being repaired. This will be subject to final authorisation by DFFE to grant ESKOM an exemption to operate the units at full capacity with the temporary stacks. The temporary stacks will be completed by the end of November 2023 and Units 1, 2 and 3 synchronised to the grid by the end of December 2023.
The steel fabrication for the chimney pieces are fairly well, factories are operating 24 hours and are ahead of schedule. The welding of the steelwork is done at the factories while the stacking together of the pieces is consolidated on site.
Unit 3 is projected to be completed by the 28 November 2023, unit 1 is projected to be completed by the 11 December 2023, while Unit 2 is projected to be completed by 24 December 2023. Unit 5 is expected to be completed by October 2023 and unit 6 is expected at the end of 2024