Eskom's Kusile power station, plagued by cost overruns, corruption, and operational challenges, has become a symbol of South Africa's troubled energy sector.
Construction hurdles, corruption scandals, and a ballooning budget have transformed Eskom 's Kusile power station into a symbol of South Africa 's troubled energy sector. The project, initially envisioned as a six-unit coal-fired power station with a total capacity of 4,800MW, has been plagued by delays since its inception in 2008. Unit 1, the first of the six units, began commercial operation in 2017, a full decade after the project's initial deadline.
Subsequent units came online at increasing intervals, with Unit 6 finally operational in late 2023. The delays have come at a steep cost, with the project's budget ballooning nearly threefold from its initial estimate of R31.5 billion to approximately R90 billion.Adding insult to injury, Kusile has become synonymous with corruption within Eskom. Numerous scandals involving fraudulent procurement and bribery have rocked the project, further eroding public trust in the power utility. These scandals have led to arrests and investigations, highlighting the deeply entrenched corruption within Eskom. One particularly egregious case involved the unlawful procurement of a pump for R857,977 in 2018, when an identical pump with the same serial number was purchased for just R18,835 in 2015. The continued operational challenges faced by Kusile's units have cast a long shadow over its contribution to South Africa's energy grid. As a testament to the power station's troubled history, units 1, 2, and 3 were temporarily shut down in late 2022 due to a flue duct collapse caused by faulty emission control systems and human error.This incident underscored the safety and reliability concerns surrounding Kusile and underscored the urgent need for Eskom to address the underlying operational and management issues crippling the power station. Despite the setbacks, Eskom has attempted to salvage the project by implementing short-term solutions to restore operational capacity and minimize the risk of load-shedding. However, the power utility's struggle to rectify the persistent problems plaguing Kusile reflects the broader crisis facing South Africa's energy sector
Kusile Power Station Eskom South Africa Coal Power Corruption Delays Load-Shedding Energy Crisis
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Lerato Motsoeneng, Senior General Manager, Bolt South Africa unpacks prioritizing safety in South Africa’sDeveloping countries, specifically across cities in the African region, have persistently experienced challenges with their transport systems. The lack of
Read more »
Dark clouds for solar power in South AfricaA few days of gloomy weather can quickly kill those off-grid dreams.
Read more »
Biggest data centre operator in South Africa buys wind powerNOA will wheel energy from several wind generation projects to Teraco’s data centres.
Read more »
Turn waste into power: Redisa's solution to South Africa's load shedding energy crisisSouth Africa could transform its mounting waste problem into a power generation solution, as Redisa reveals how waste-to-energy technology could generate 100MW of electricity for every two million tons of waste processed, potentially offering relief from persistent load shedding while addressing environmental concerns.
Read more »
South Africa should say goodbye to big power stationsUtility-scale power stations will still play major part in South Africa’s energy mix for several years. However, the capability to install solar generation much closer to electricity users will.
Read more »
Escalating Copper Cable Theft Poses Growing Threat to South Africa's Power GridCopper cable theft is on the rise in South Africa, with criminals becoming increasingly sophisticated and daring in their methods. The theft of copper cables, transformers, overhead lines, and conductors costs Eskom between R5 billion and R7 billion per year, contributing to the country's ongoing power outages. Authorities are struggling to keep pace with the escalating threat, facing a dilemma of whether to prioritize increased security measures or invest in advanced technology.
Read more »