https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Zuma to reopen Grootvlei power station

President Jacob Zuma

President Jacob Zuma

Photo by Duane Daws

16th September 2013

By: Leandi Kolver

Creamer Media Deputy Editor

  

Font size: - +

President Jacob Zuma will officially reopen the Grootvlei power station in Balfour, Mpumalanga, on Friday.

The power station, which comprises six coal-fired units with a combined capacity of 1 200 MW, was mothballed in 1990 owing to an excess of available electricity at the time; however, following a R7.2-billion upgrade it has been returned to service.

The upgrade formed part of State-owned power utility Eskom’s return-to-service projects, which also included the upgrade of the Camden and Komati power stations. 

“The return to service of the Grootvlei power station will assist with [meeting] the electricity demand requirements on the national grid by providing maintenance space for other power stations,” the Presidency said in a statement.

The President will also on Friday inspect the construction progress on the Grootvlei–Balfour railway line, which will link the Grootvlei power station to the Balfour North power station in Mpumalanga.

Transnet has, in line with its own commitments to move freight volumes to rail, decided to reinstate the about 30 km Grootvlei–Balfour rail line.

The rail line would have the capacity to transport three-million tons of coal a year.

“We expect the first phase of the project to be completed by December this year and the second phase by April 2014. The development on the rail line already sees 9 km of track successfully installed,” Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba said.

The Grootvlei–Balfour rail line formed part of the broader branchline network, which was a critical link in the country’s transport system and was an integral component of the revitalisation of the freight traffic road to rail migration strategy, the Presidency explained.

“This rail network will contribute to local economic and socioeconomic development of communities,” it added.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Online Managing Editor

Article Enquiry

Email Article

Save Article

Feedback

To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Showroom

Airshrink - CiP
Airshrink - CiP

At Airshrink - CiP, we surpass customer expectations with innovative MV and LV cable accessories, including heat shrink joints, terminations,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
AirNox Pty Ltd
AirNox Pty Ltd

AirNox (Pty) Ltd is a level 1 BBBEE manufacturer of complete AdBlue® solutions for operators of SCR diesel engines and AUS40 across South Africa...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







301

sq:0.047 0.915s - 124pq - 4rq
Subscribe Now