President Jacob Zuma yesterday officially opened Unit 6 of the Medupi Power Station in Lephale‚ Limpopo‚ which will add 794 megawatts (MW) to the national grid.
The Medupi Power Station is the largest coal-fired power station in the country and will also become the world’s largest dry-cooled coal-fired power station.
It is the first baseload station to be built in 20 years by Eskom‚ after Majuba Power Station. Construction on Medupi started in May 2007.
Zuma said the country had waited a long time to witness some energy flowing from the station‚ but its impact was already being felt countrywide.
“Pressure is being alleviated on the national electricity system to prevent or minimise load shedding.
“This is a very important milestone in Eskom’s growth trajectory towards the 4800MW capacity that must be achieved at the completion of the other five units‚” Zuma said.
Medupi’s megawatt contribution‚ along with the 1800MW supplied by independent power producers‚ would further strengthen the country’s electricity supply and stimulate the economy‚ he added.
“This will help achieve the projection made for Medupi that, at completion‚ it will grow South Africa’s GDP by approximately 0.35% per year.”
He said the country had experienced serious energy challenges in recent times‚ which not only caused enormous inconvenience to all South Africans‚ but was also a serious impediment to economic growth.
“The difficult economic global conditions and our energy shortage are a serious challenge for the South African economy.
“Today we are gathered to say to our people‚ there is light at the end of the tunnel‚” Zuma stated.
The coming onto stream of Unit 6 had taken place at a most opportune moment for the country‚ he added.
“The GDP growth has contracted by 1.3% in the second quarter of 2915 after growing by 1.3% in the first quarter of 2015. Growth contracted in all sectors except for personal services and general government services.
“Challenges in the energy sector‚ drought conditions and weak domestic demand all contributed to the contraction in the GDP growth in the second quarter. The energy shortage is a serious obstacle to growth.
“ the opening of Unit 6 is a significant achievement for the country. — RDM News Wire
Zuma opens Medupi unit – a boost to grid
The Medupi Power Station is the largest coal-fired power station in the country and will also become the world’s largest dry-cooled coal-fired power station.
It is the first baseload station to be built in 20 years by Eskom‚ after Majuba Power Station. Construction on Medupi started in May 2007.
Zuma said the country had waited a long time to witness some energy flowing from the station‚ but its impact was already being felt countrywide.
“Pressure is being alleviated on the national electricity system to prevent or minimise load shedding.
“This is a very important milestone in Eskom’s growth trajectory towards the 4800MW capacity that must be achieved at the completion of the other five units‚” Zuma said.
Medupi’s megawatt contribution‚ along with the 1800MW supplied by independent power producers‚ would further strengthen the country’s electricity supply and stimulate the economy‚ he added.
“This will help achieve the projection made for Medupi that, at completion‚ it will grow South Africa’s GDP by approximately 0.35% per year.”
He said the country had experienced serious energy challenges in recent times‚ which not only caused enormous inconvenience to all South Africans‚ but was also a serious impediment to economic growth.
“The difficult economic global conditions and our energy shortage are a serious challenge for the South African economy.
“Today we are gathered to say to our people‚ there is light at the end of the tunnel‚” Zuma stated.
The coming onto stream of Unit 6 had taken place at a most opportune moment for the country‚ he added.
“The GDP growth has contracted by 1.3% in the second quarter of 2915 after growing by 1.3% in the first quarter of 2015. Growth contracted in all sectors except for personal services and general government services.
“Challenges in the energy sector‚ drought conditions and weak domestic demand all contributed to the contraction in the GDP growth in the second quarter. The energy shortage is a serious obstacle to growth.
“ the opening of Unit 6 is a significant achievement for the country. — RDM News Wire
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