Medupi Power Station Explained

Medupi Power Station
Coordinates:-23.7°N 27.55°W
Country:South Africa
Location:Lephalale
Status:Under construction
Construction Began:2007
Owner:Eskom
Th Fuel Primary:Wet-Coal
Ps Units Operational:6 x 764
Ps Electrical Capacity:4,584 MW
Ps Electrical Cap Fac:70%

Medupi Power Station is a dry-cooled coal-fired power station built by Eskom near Lephalale in Limpopo province, South Africa. The station consists of 6 generating units with a nameplate capacity of 764 MW each bringing the total installed capacity of 4,584 MW.[1]

Original concept

Medupi was conceived as Project Alpha in 2007, with only three units planned to total 2,292 MW and estimated cost of R32 billion.[2] The design was changed at a late stage in 2007 and doubled in size to 4,584 MW.

The boilers were envisaged to be supercritical in type, which would make them 38% more effective than other Eskom power stations.[3] A dry cooled system was also intended to use less water than other coal-fired power stations in the fleet.[4]

Initial project costing was estimated at R69 billion[5] but that was updated to approximately R80 billion by 2007.[6] [7]

Parsons Brinckerhoff was appointed as the project engineer to oversee all construction.[8]

Power output

Design

The power station has six boilers each powering 794 MW turbines, producing 4,584 MW in total.

When completed, Medupi became the largest dry-cooled coal-fired power station in the world.[9]

Awards

Medupi's GE Steam Power Systems was awarded a Global Project Excellence Gold Award at the 2016 IPMA Project Excellence Awards.[10]

Main equipment suppliers

Alstom provided the steam turbines, whilst Hitachi provided the super critical boilers.[11]

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.[12]

Power generation

Construction timeline

Completion of the first two units was expected by 2012 but various delays impacted progress. The first 794 MW unit (no 6) was commissioned and handed over to Eskom Generation on 23 August 2015. Units 5 to 1 was completed at approximately nine-month intervals thereafter.

Related projects

Bulk water

In order to meet the growing demand for power generation and mining activities in the Lephalale area, two main bulk raw water transfer systems were also required. This comprised a 4.5 MW pump station and 46 km pipeline extracting from the Mokolo Dam. Phase 1 of this project was commissioned in 2015.[26]

Transmission connection

174 Kilometres of high voltage transmission lines was required from Medupi to the Borutho substation near Mokopane. Construction occurred between November 2015 till the end of 2017.[27]

Delays and defects

The dates for full commercial operation were shifted numerous times mostly due to labour disputes such as:

Unit 4 generator explosion

On 9 August 2021, in the second week after Eskom announced that Medupi had attained commercial operation, Medupi Unit 4 was extensively damaged in a hydrogen explosion[34] [35] which caused a loss of 700 MW in generating capacity.[36] The cost of repair was estimated at up to R2 billion,[36] or up to R40 billion.[37] [38]

Cost escalation

The initial expected cost of R80 billion (2007 Rands),[6] was revised to R154 billion (2013 Rands).[39] [40] [41] By 2019, the cost of Medupi was independently estimated at R234 billion (2019 Rands).[42] [43] Some of the primary reasons for the cost escalation was the importing of components affected by a fluctuating Rand exchange rate, redesigns and rework as well as labour disputes and standing time. Due to cost escalations the African Development Bank has stated that they do not expect the power plant to produce a positive financial return over the course of its lifetime.[44]

Critics

The building of this power station attracted various criticisms.[45] [46]

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.[47] [48]

Coal

Backers of the project argued that new generation coal plants was needed.[49] Other critics argued that effective management of coal supplies was needed to existing stations.[50]

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.

Emissions

The approval of the World Bank loan drew criticism for supporting increased global emissions of greenhouse gases.[51]

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.[52]

National grid context

The Medupi and Kusile power stations were constructed to increase the electricity generation capacity of South Africa. Insufficient electricity generation had resulted in the ongoing South African energy crisis starting in 2007. This has resulted in years of rolling blackouts.

As of 11 February 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 4,000 MW of demand from the national grid, and negatively impacted the economy.[53] [54] In December 2019, unusually heavy flooding and rain triggered failures at the Medupi plant and forced Eskom to cut 6,000 MW from the national power grid, the biggest power cuts in South Africa in a decade.[55] [56]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Medupi Coal-Fired Power Station Project, South Africa . 2023-05-24 . Power Technology . en-US.
  2. Web site: Claire . 2015-09-04 . Electricity for South Africa . 2022-05-22 . Powertime . en-US.
  3. Web site: Eskom's Medupi coal-power plant nears completion. 23 June 2018.
  4. Kotze . Petro . 2005 . How much water will we need to keep the lights on? . Water and Energy . May/June . 22–25.
  5. Web site: 2015-02-05 . Sinking into Eskom's black hole . 2022-05-22 . The Mail & Guardian . en-ZA.
  6. Web site: Medupi Sod Turning Press Release. www.eskom.co.za. 10 August 2021.
  7. Web site: How much Medupi will cost SA. 10 August 2015.
  8. Web site: We are WSP - Engineers, Designers, Planners, Researchers. WSP.
  9. Web site: Medupi Power Station . Eskom . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130806221624/http://www.eskom.co.za/c/article/57/medupi-power-station/ . 2013-08-06 .
  10. Web site: Excellent Finalists and Winners of IPMA Awards 2016 have been decorated by IPMA. 2016-12-15. IPMA International Project Management Association. en. 2020-01-10.
  11. Web site: R33.6-billion Eskom contracts awarded for Medupi power station . 14 Nov 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120111114250/http://www.tradeinvestsa.co.za/news/982506.htm . 2012-01-11 .
  12. Web site: Medupi project on track for scheduled delivery. August 5, 2018.
  13. Web site: Medupia's first 24 hours coal run a success. Noord Nuus. 2012-11-29.
  14. Web site: 'Medupi turbine 6 at optimum capacity' - IOL Business Report.
  15. Web site: Medupi: Eskom hails 'new beginning' - IOL Business Report.
  16. News: Medupi Unit 5 a step closer to commercial operation. 2016-12-22.
  17. Web site: Eskom commissions second 500MVA transformer at the Ngwedi substation. 10 March 2017.
  18. Web site: Eskom announces Medupi Unit 3 is commercially operational. 2019-06-29. The South African. en-US. 2019-08-30.
  19. Web site: 2018-10-09. Medupi Unit 2 synchronised to the grid. 2022-01-06. SAnews. en.
  20. Web site: 2019-11-26. Medupi Unit 2 brought into commercial operation shortly after visit from Ramaphosa. 2022-01-06. The Citizen. en.
  21. Web site: Staff Writer. Eskom Medupi Unit 2 achieves commercial operation. 2022-01-06. en-US.
  22. Web site: South Africa adds unit 1 of Medupi Power Station to the national grid . constructionreviewonline.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190902060935/https://constructionreviewonline.com/2019/08/south-africa-adds-unit-1-of-medupi-power-station-to-the-national-grid/ . 2019-09-02.
  23. Web site: Medupi: Timeline of a R145bn — and still counting — disaster. Paton. Carol. 13 February 2019. BusinessLIVE. en-ZA. 2019-08-30.
  24. Web site: Creamer. Terence. Eskom tests market for Medupi flue gas desulphurisation solutions. 2022-01-07. www.engineeringnews.co.za. en.
  25. Web site: Eskom Medupi's last unit achieves commercial operation, marking completion of the project. 2 August 2021. Eskom. en-ZA. 2021-08-02.
  26. Web site: Mokolo Crocodile Water Augmentation Project . www.aurecongroup.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121007092614/http://aurecongroup.com/Projects/Water/Mokolo-Crocodile-Water-Augmentation-Project . 2012-10-07.
  27. Web site: 2015-09-01. Transmission lines: Spanish firm to construct two power lines in RSA. 2022-01-07. ESI-Africa.com. en-ZA.
  28. Web site: Yet more problems for Eskom as violence erupts at Medupi. 2022-01-07. fspinvest.co.za. en.
  29. Web site: Eyewitness News. Numsa blames Eskom for Medupi strike. 2022-01-07. ewn.co.za. en.
  30. Web site: Inside Medupi's labour pains. 2022-01-07. Fin24. en-US.
  31. Web site: 2019-02-12. Medupi is drowning in damaging ash as contractor forced to withdraw. 2022-01-07. The Citizen. en.
  32. Web site: Creamer. Terence. Technical defects at Medupi and Kusile resulting in serious underperformance. 2022-01-07. www.engineeringnews.co.za. en.
  33. Web site: It could take five years for Eskom's power stations to be fully up and running again – here's why. BusinessInsider. 2019-08-30.
  34. Web site: Photos: 'Extensive damage' at Medupi after massive explosion. Tech Central. Duncan. McLeod. 9 August 2021.
  35. Web site: Medupi explosion: 'Extensive damage' caused, Eskom staff suspended. Jan. Cronje. 9 August 2021. News24.
  36. News: Mahlaka . Ray . Medupi explosion: Sabotage ruled out, but the R2bn repair price could fall on energy customers . 13 August 2021 . Business Maverick . dailymaverick.co.za . 12 August 2021.
  37. News: Ginindza . Banele . Medupi explosion may cost up to R40bn - experts . 13 August 2021 . IOL . iol.co.za . 11 August 2021.
  38. Web site: Modise . Kgomotso . Medupi's inactive unit 4 affecting power station's performance, says manager . 2023-05-24 . ewn.co.za . en.
  39. Web site: How much is Medupi really costing the country? . 2015-08-24. EWN.
  40. Web site: Medupi Timeline: Costs, delays spiralling – no completion in sight . 6 August 2015 . 2015-08-24.
  41. Web site: Medupi will cost R105bn to complete – for now . 2015-08-24.
  42. Web site: Here is the true cost of Eskom's Medupi and Kusile power stations. 2019-08-30. www.mybroadband.co.za. en-US. 2019-08-30.
  43. Web site: Medupi, Kusile, and the massive cost/time overrun. Daily Maverick. 2016-07-07. www.dailymaverick.co.za. 2016-12-22.
  44. Web site: Paton . Carol . Eskom's Medupi will not earn a financial return in its lifetime, says funder African Development Bank . 2022-06-09 . Fin24 . en-US.
  45. Rafey. William. 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. 1141–1151. 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.05.005 .
  46. Web site: Eskom and the multi-billion rand mega projects that could have saved SA. 2019-02-13. Fin24. 2019-02-13.
  47. Web site: Opposition slams ANC 'about-turn' on Hitachi . Mail & Guardian Online. 24 May 2010. 14 April 2010.
  48. Web site: Zille says ANC stands to make R1bn from Medupi. 3 April 2010 .
  49. Web site: Log In. Power Plants News Today, EIN News . powerplants.einnews.com.
  50. Web site: National Response To South Africa's Electricity Shortage . 2010-04-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090824033934/http://www.info.gov.za/otherdocs/2008/nationalresponse_sa_electricity1.pdf . 2009-08-24 .
  51. News: South Africa Wins $3.75 Billion Coal Loan . The New York Times . Lisa . Friedman . 2010-04-09.
  52. Web site: Eskom opens forensic probe into Medupi, Kusile. Khumalo. Sibongile. 2018-12-06. Fin24. 2019-01-01.
  53. News: Burkhardt . Paul . Blackouts Cripple South Africa Again as Eskom Stumbles . 12 March 2019 . Bloomberg Markets . Bloomberg.
  54. News: Goko . Colleen . Eskom Extends South Africa Power Cuts as Moody's Flags Risk . 12 March 2019 . Bloomberg technology . Bloomberg.
  55. Web site: Eskom steps up power cuts after flooding hits major plant. 2019-12-09 . Moneyweb. 2019-12-19.
  56. News: South Africa hit by massive power cuts as floods disrupt supply . Burke. Jason. 2019-12-09. The Guardian. 2019-12-19. en-GB. 0261-3077.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Medupi Power Station".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.