State-owned power utility Eskom expects construction work in some areas of its Ingula pumped storage scheme, in KwaZulu-Natal, to resume soon, with all workers at the site currently undergoing training to prepare them to resume work in accessible areas.
This followed the lifting of a Section 54 work stoppage order by the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) on November 20 for all areas other than the high-pressure shafts.
Construction work at Ingula was halted on October 31 after six workers – four foreign nationals and two South Africans – were killed in an accident. The six workers, who were employed by a subcontractor, were killed when an 8 t gantry, or platform, came loose from its anchoring and travelled at speed down a 938-m-high inclined underground shaft, connecting with a monorail used to transport workers, as well as two other gantries on which employees were standing.
The area where the accident occurred would remain closed until the DMR investigations were completed and inspectors declare it safe. The DMR investigation was ongoing and Eskom’s investigation would be done in line with the prevalent guidelines.
“Safety is job number one. Power plants, transmission and distribution infrastructure must be run in a way that protects surrounding communities and ensures that our employees and contractors are safe and healthy. Strong action is being taken to enforce zero harm and zero tolerance for unsafe practices. Eskom will consider the outcome of the investigations carefully and implement the necessary actions,” said CEO Brian Dames.