Medupi Power Station

Medupi Power Station
Location of Medupi Power Station in South Africa
Country	South Africa
Location	Lephalale
Coordinates
Status	Under construction
Commission date	2015 Q1
Owner(s)	Eskom
Thermal power station
Primary fuel	Coal
Power generation
Units under const.	6 × 794 MW
Nameplate capacity	4,764 MW

Medupi Power Station is a dry-cooled coal-fired power station being built by Eskom near Lephalale in Limpopo province, South Africa. According to Eskom, the name chosen for the station, Medupi, is a Sepedi word for "rain that soaks parched lands".

History

Originally conceived as Project Alpha in 2007, with only three units to total 2400MW and cost R32 billion, the design was changed at a late stage in 2007 and doubled in size to 4764MW. Initial project cost was given as R69 billion but that was updated to approximately R80 billion later in 2007.

Power output

When completed, the power station is to have six boilers each powering an 800 MW turbine, producing 4800 MW of power. It is expected to become the largest dry-cooled coal-fired power station in the world. Alstom will provide the steam turbines, Medupi will be supplied by coal from Exxaro's Grootegeluk coal mine, located north of the site. Eskom has placed a contract with Exxaro to supply 14.6 MT of coal per year for 40 years. Completion of the first two units was expected by 2012 but various delays have impacted on progress. The first 794 MW unit was commissioned and handed over to Eskom Generation on 23 August 2015. Units 5 to 1 will be completed at approximately nine-month intervals. The power station was initially expected to cost R80 billion (2007 Rands), but is now forecast to cost R154 billion.(2013 Rands)

Power generation

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Development of the coal yard, early 2014

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Fabrication of a boiler structure, mid 2014

On 18 February 2015 the Public Enterprises minister, Lynne Brown, announced that the number 6 turbine is running at the optimum speed of 3000 revolutions per minute. Official news reports stated that the turbine will add 794 megawatts to the national grid.

Critics

The building of the coal power station has attracted criticism. Critics have alleged that the government pushed the project forward because the African National Congress held a 25% share of the venture and stood to make a profit of close to 1 billion rand on the deal. Backers of the project argued that the plant is needed. Some critics say that effective management of coal supplies was needed, not another coal station.

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 of the Medupi power station. The approval of the World Bank loan drew criticism for supporting increased global emissions of greenhouse gases.

See also

• List of coal power stations
• List of largest power stations in the world
• List of power stations in South Africa