Eskom: Majuba recovery exceeds expectations

Johannesburg - Eskom said South Africa's power grid would continue to experience its present constraints next week, and has asked the public to use electricity sparingly.

"Our projections indicate similar constraints next week. As such, Eskom appeals to consumers to reduce their electricity usage throughout the day, but especially from 18:00 to 22:00."

Generating capacity at the Majuba power station has increased but the system would remain constrained on Thursday, Eskom said.

It said the capacity at Majuba was now at 1 400 MW. More units were due to be synchronised to the grid with the potential of increasing generating capacity to 3 200 MW, the power utility said in a statement.

"The recovery programme at the Majuba power station is proceeding well and has far exceeded our expectations. Teams are working 24/7 moving coal from stock piles to the conveyer belts which are the link to the generating units."

"We are taking this week one day at a time, so no guarantees for tomorrow at this stage."

A coal storage silo which stored over 10 000 tons of coal at the Majuba power station in Mpumalanga collapsed on Saturday, affecting coal supplies to all six units at the power station.

On Tuesday, trade union Solidarity said the silo had been showing signs of stress since January and Eskom had done nothing to correct the problem.

Etzinger said the silo was inspected last year.

Before the collapse, Majuba supplied 3 600 MW, roughly 10% of the country's electricity capacity, Etzinger said on Sunday.

Its capacity was reduced to 1 800 MW and then to 600 MW. According to Eskom this had since been increased to 1 200 MW.

Eskom warned the collapse could cause rolling blackouts across the country.

Democratic Alliance MP Natasha Michael said on Tuesday it had been widely reported that Eskom used wet coal.

This posed a serious danger as the wet coal caused a chemical reaction that placed extra pressure on a silo, she said.

"It is very plausible that the collapse of the silo, and the resulting national rolling blackout, was caused by negligence on the part of Eskom. This possibility needs to be thoroughly and transparently investigated."