Medupi Power Station: Difference between revisions
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* By 9 October 2018, it was announced that Unit 2 had been synchronised.<ref>https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/medupi-unit-2-synchronised-grid</ref> |
* By 9 October 2018, it was announced that Unit 2 had been synchronised.<ref>https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/medupi-unit-2-synchronised-grid</ref> |
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* The final unit achieved synchronisation on the 27 August 2019. |
* The final unit achieved synchronisation on the 27 August 2019. <ref>https://constructionreviewonline.com/2019/08/south-africa-adds-unit-1-of-medupi-power-station-to-the-national-grid/</ref> |
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* Peripheral works such as coal yards has a expected completion date of 2021. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2019-02-13-medupi-timeline-of-a-r145bn--and-still-counting--disaster/|title=Medupi: Timeline of a R145bn — and still counting — disaster|last=Paton|first=Carol|date=13 February 2019|website=BusinessLIVE|language=en-ZA|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> |
* Peripheral works such as coal yards has a expected completion date of 2021. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2019-02-13-medupi-timeline-of-a-r145bn--and-still-counting--disaster/|title=Medupi: Timeline of a R145bn — and still counting — disaster|last=Paton|first=Carol|date=13 February 2019|website=BusinessLIVE|language=en-ZA|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 06:09, 2 September 2019
| Medupi Power Station | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Location | Lephalale |
| Coordinates | 23°42′00″S 27°33′00″E / 23.70000°S 27.55000°E |
| Status | Under construction |
| Commission date | 2015 Q1 |
| Owner(s) | Eskom |
| Operator(s) | |
| Thermal power station | |
| Primary fuel | Coal |
| Power generation | |
| Units under const. | 6 × 794 MW |
| Nameplate capacity | 4,764 MW |
| External links | |
| Commons | Related media on Commons |
Medupi Power Station is a dry-cooled coal-fired power station built by Eskom near Lephalale in Limpopo province, South Africa. According to Eskom, the name chosen for the station, Medupi, is a Sepedi word for "rain that soaks parched lands".[1]
History
Original concept
Originally conceived as Project Alpha in 2007, with only three units planned to total 2400MW and estimated cost of R32 billion.
The design was changed at a late stage in 2007 and doubled in size to 4764MW.
Original planned cost
Initial project costing was estimated at R69 billion but that was updated to approximately R80 billion by 2007.[2][3]
Project Engineer
Parsons Brinckerhoff was appointed as the project engineer to oversee all construction.
Power output
Design
The power station has six boilers each powering 800 MW turbines, producing 4800 MW in total.
When completed, Medupi became the largest dry-cooled coal-fired power station in the world.[4]
Main equipment suppliers
Alstom provided the steam turbines, whilst Hitachi would provide the super critical boilers.[5]
Coal supply
Medupi is supplied with coal from Exxaro's Grootegeluk coal mine, located north of the site. Eskom placed a contract with Exxaro to supply 14.6 MT of coal per year for 40 years.[6]
Power generation
Construction timeline
Completion of the first two units was expected by 2012 but various delays impacted progress. The first 794 MW unit was commissioned and handed over to Eskom Generation on 23 August 2015. Units 5 to 1 was completed at approximately nine-month intervals thereafter.
- On the 18 February 2015 then Public Enterprises Minister, Lynne Brown, announced that the first unit, no 6 turbine was running at a optimal speed of 3000 revolutions per minute.[7] Official news reports stated that the turbine would add 794 megawatts to the national grid.[8]
- By 22 February 2016, no 5 turbine was undergoing load testing. [9] Commercial operation began on 3 April 2017,
- By 28 November 2017, Unit 4 added. [10]
- By 6 June 2018 it was announced that Unit 3 had entered commercial operation. [10]
- By 9 October 2018, it was announced that Unit 2 had been synchronised.[11]
- The final unit achieved synchronisation on the 27 August 2019. [12]
- Peripheral works such as coal yards has a expected completion date of 2021. [13]
Delays and defects
In March 2015 a eight week illegal strike escalated into violence and intimidation.[14]
The dates for full commercial operation were shifted, mainly due to technical issues with steam piping, weld rechecks, ash system and incorrect coal grades damaging mill crushers. [15]
Cost escalation
The initial expected cost of R80 billion (2007 Rands),[2] was revised to R154 billion (2013 Rands). [16][17][18]
By 2019, the cost of Medupi was estimated at R234 billion. (2019 Rands) [19] [20]
Some of the primary reasons for the cost escalation was the importing of components affected by a fluctuating Rand exchange rate, redesigns and rework.
Critics
The building of this power station attracted various criticisms.[21] [22]
Interference
Critics alleged that the government endorsed the project due to the ruling party, the African National Congress holding a 25% share of a package and stood to make a profit of close to 1 billion Rand.[23][24]
Coal
Backers of the project argued that new generation coal plants was needed.[25] Other critics argued that effective management of coal supplies was needed to existing stations.[26]
Cost
The African Development Bank lent $500 million for the project in 2008.
In 2010, the World Bank agreed to lend South Africa $3.75 billion to assist with several energy projects, with $3.05 billion allocated for completion of this power station.
Emissions
The approval of the World Bank loan drew criticism for supporting increased global emissions of greenhouse gases.[27]
The design of the station does however allow for the incorporation of flue gas desulphurisation technology.
Inquiry
By 2018, the government's Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan announced a forensic probe into the delays and cost overruns on the completion of Kusile and Medupi Power Stations.[28][28]
National grid context
As of 11 Feb 2019, Eskom reinstated load-shedding due to ongoing strain on the national grid from failing older power stations. The blackouts were as severe as those of 2015, removing up to 4000MW of demand from the national grid, and negatively impacted the economy.[29][30]
See also
- List of coal power stations
- List of largest power stations in the world
- List of power stations in South Africa
References
- ^ "Kusile and Medupi coal-fired power stations under construction" (PDF). Eskom. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-17.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Medupi Sod Turning Press Release". www.eskom.co.za. Retrieved 2015-08-24.
- ^ "How much Medupi will cost SA". Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- ^ "Medupi Power Station". Eskom. Archived from the original on 2013-08-06.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "R33.6-billion Eskom contracts awarded for Medupi power station". 14 Nov 2007. Archived from the original on 2012-01-11.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Medupi project on track for scheduled delivery". Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ^ "'Medupi turbine 6 at optimum capacity' - IOL Business Report".
- ^ "Medupi: Eskom hails 'new beginning' - IOL Business Report".
- ^ "Medupi Unit 5 a step closer to commercial operation". Retrieved 2016-12-22.
- ^ a b "Eskom announces Medupi Unit 3 is commercially operational". The South African. 2019-06-29. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
- ^ https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/medupi-unit-2-synchronised-grid
- ^ https://constructionreviewonline.com/2019/08/south-africa-adds-unit-1-of-medupi-power-station-to-the-national-grid/
- ^ Paton, Carol (13 February 2019). "Medupi: Timeline of a R145bn — and still counting — disaster". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ https://www.fin24.com/Economy/Eskom/Inside-Medupis-labour-pains-20150822
- ^ "It could take five years for Eskom's power stations to be fully up and running again – here's why". BusinessInsider. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
- ^ EWN, FILE: Medupi Power Station Picture. "How much is Medupi really costing the country?". Retrieved 2015-08-24.
- ^ "Medupi Timeline: Costs, delays spiralling – no completion in sight". Retrieved 2015-08-24.
- ^ "Medupi will cost R105bn to complete – for now". Retrieved 2015-08-24.
- ^ Writer, Staff (2019-08-30). "Here is the true cost of Eskom's Medupi and Kusile power stations". www.mybroadband.co.za. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Medupi, Kusile, and the massive cost/time overrun | Daily Maverick". www.dailymaverick.co.za. 2016 July 07. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Rafey, William and Sovacool, B.K. (2011). "Competing Discourses of Energy Development: The Implications of the Medupi Coal-Fired Power Plant in South Africa," Global Environmental Change, 21(3), pp. 1141-1151.
- ^ "Eskom and the multi-billion rand mega projects that could have saved SA". Fin24. 2019-02-13. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
- ^ "Opposition slams ANC 'about-turn' on Hitachi". Mail & Guardian Online. 14 April 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
- ^ Reporter, Staff. "Zille says ANC stands to make R1bn from Medupi".
- ^ News, EIN. "Log In - Power Plants News Today - EIN News". powerplants.einnews.com.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-08-24. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Friedman, Lisa (2010-04-09). "South Africa Wins $3.75 Billion Coal Loan". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Khumalo, Sibongile (2018-12-06). "Eskom opens forensic probe into Medupi, Kusile". Fin24. Retrieved 2019-01-01.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Burkhardt, Paul. "Blackouts Cripple South Africa Again as Eskom Stumbles". Bloomberg Markets. Bloomberg. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ Goko, Colleen. "Eskom Extends South Africa Power Cuts as Moody's Flags Risk". Bloomberg technology. Bloomberg. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
