Eskom says it has returned at least 37 generation units to service following what Chief Operating Officer (COO), Jan Oberholzer, called a “disastrous week” for the power utility.

Last week, Eskom announced that Stage 2 load shedding would be implemented throughout the week. However, the breakdown of some 42 generation units quickly escalated load shedding to Stage 4 by Saturday.

Oberholzer, together with Eskom management, briefed media on Monday morning on the state of the power system and the challenges it faces.

Describing a week in which Eskom suffered generation unit breakdowns and slow returns to service, Oberholzer acknowledged that the “performance of generation…is extremely disappointing”.

“If you add all of the [generation unit breakdowns] up, we had 42 units tripping during the week… just under 24 000 MW – some of them more than once.

“We managed to return 37 units [to service], totalling about 22 000MW – a really poor performance of our generation coal fleet during last week,” he said.

As of Monday morning, Eskom has some 5 319MW of power out on planned maintenance, with more than 15 000MW offline due to breakdowns.

Some 7 500MW capacity, from 13 generation units, is expected to return to service over the next three days.

“Stage 4 load shedding on Saturday and Sunday allowed us to replenish the damn levels at the pump storage power stations and there has been progress in filing the diesel tanks at the open cycle gas turbine cycles… but the diesel levels are still low.

“Stage 3 load shedding will remain implemented until 5am on Tuesday morning. For the remainder of the week until midnight on Friday, Stage 2 load shedding will be required while we attempt to return those 13 units to service. This outlook may change at short notice, should we experience unforeseen breakdowns,” Oberholzer said.

Koeberg 

Oberholzer said some 920MW of capacity at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station’s Unit 2 remains offline, since the beginning of this month.

The big unit – one of Eskom’s most reliable – tripped during routine testing ahead of its full return to service following maintenance outage since January.

“Industry experience indicates that this type of issue can be experienced for a period following the replacement of the control rod drive mechanism, which we did during the last outage.

“I can assure the public that the Koeberg team, together with the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), continue to perform tests on the system and are analysing the results in detail to ensure the reason is fully understood.

“Once all the tests are completed and all the measures to reduce the risk of production impact have been assessed and if possible, implemented, the unit will be returned to service,” Oberholzer said. – SAnews.gov.za

Eskom says plans to restore bulk electricity supply to the disaster hit Jagersfontein and Charlesville area are on track, with power expected to be back on Tuesday.

This after a devastating mudslide on Sunday, which destroyed infrastructure and homes, killing at least one and leaving over 40 people injured. While a number of people have been displaced, two are reported missing.

Eskom’s Rietkuil substation in the area was engulfed in mud, which damaged infrastructure. The substation is a supply point of Centlec – the bulk electricity supplier for both Jagersfontein and Charlesville.

“Eskom has made significant progress in restoring bulk electricity supply to Jagersfontein in the Free State. Electricity supply to Jagersfontein mine was restored [Sunday] afternoon. In addition, plans are in motion to restore bulk supply to Centlec through alternative feeders.

“If all goes according to plan, bulk supply should be restored by Tuesday. Municipal infrastructure might have also been damaged, leading to prolonged supply interruptions,” Eskom said.

The electricity company warned that other areas not receiving power from Centlec may have to wait longer for supply restoration.

“Eskom customers on the Fauresmith-Spitskop and Pompie-Rietkuil feeders are, however, still without electricity supply due to 50 poles that collapsed as a result of the [mudslide]. Muddy conditions are making this area unreachable, leaving us with seven rural customers who are without supply.

“The Rietkuil substation is also inaccessible, making it impossible to calculate the extent of the damage. The possibility does exist that the station will have to be rebuilt in its entirety,” Eskom said.

The power utility warned users to treat lines, sockets and appliances as live and dangerous. – SAnews.gov.za