Automation company ABB is on schedule to complete automation for the first 800 MW generating unit at State-owned enterprise Eskom’s Kusile power station, in Mpumalanga.
“With record timing as a key deliverable of such an intrinsically complex project, there is excellent cooperation between the Eskom and ABB teams with very strict monitoring on each element of the project to ensure deadlines are adhered to,” commented ABB Power Generation MD Kevin Kosisko.
Eskom congratulated ABB for successfully completing the factory acceptance tests of the balance-of-plant and Unit 1.
“We are encouraged by the achievement of this milestone in the project. It gives us confidence that our partner ABB is adhering to the original schedule and is on track to complete the project on time,” said Eskom group capital executive Abram Masango.
Meanwhile, Kosisko said ABB was pleased that its technology would be key to bringing reliable power supply to consumers and in developing South Africa’s power infrastructure.
As part of the order, ABB was supplying the control system, software and instrumentation solution for all six of the station’s generating units, which would supply power to the entire country.
The solution also included unit and balance-of-plant automation, field instrumentation, cabling, boiler protection and plant simulator engineering, installation, commissioning, optimisation and training.
Eskom generated more than 90% of its electricity from coal-fired stations; however, being the first plant in Africa to use wet flue-gas desulphurisation technology in all boilers, Kusile would use clean coal technology.