Page 16 - Energize December 2022

INDUSTRY NEWS

Komati coal-fired power station shuts down,

ready to transition to renewable energy

Information from Eskom with everyone involved.
Komati is one of the power stations that were previously mothballed due to the
fter serving South Africa since country’s excess generation capacity in the early 1980s, the age of the station and the high
1961, the coal-fired Komati Power maintenance costs. Unit 9 was then mothballed in 1989.
AStation in Mpumalanga has today Subsequently, a decision was made to return Komati Power Station to service, with the
reached the end of its operating life and refurbishment commencing on 14 August 2006. Unit 9 was handed over to the Generation
has been shut down from midday. Unit division on the 24 December 2008 and declared commercial on 04 January 2009.
9 was commissioned in March 1966, the The end of Komati’s coal-fired journey marks the beginning of another exciting
last of nine units that were built. Other journey in the service of South Africa. Eskom has developed a comprehensive Just Energy
units were shut down over the years as Transition (JET) Strategy which places equal importance on the ‘transition to lower carbon
they reached the end of their operating technologies,’ and the ability to do so in a manner that is ‘just’ and sustainable. The
life, a legislated requirement. remaining employees will take part in the Komati Repowering and Repurposing project.
The shutting down of the plant will The power plant will be converted into a renewable generation site powered with
not have a significant impact on the 150 MW of solar, 70 MW of wind and 150 MW of storage batteries, thereby continuing
national electricity grid as the remaining to put the site and its associated transmission infrastructure into good use and to provide
unit was only contributing 121 MW. economic opportunities to the community. A containerised micro-grid assembly factory
Eskom has transferred the majority of has already been established on site.
Komati employees from the power station The development of the Komati Training Facility to facilitate the reskilling, retraining,
to support and augment skills in other and upskilling of Eskom employees and members of the community, as appropriate, is
power stations and areas of the business underway. Eskom has already signed a partnership agreement with the South African
in line with operational requirements. Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) of the Cape Peninsula University of
No Eskom employees will lose their Technology, and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) to develop the
jobs as a result of the closure. training facility.
The decommissioning of the Funding for this facility, which will enable a ‘just’ transition for the local community
power station has followed a diligent following the decommissioning of the power station, has already been received from
process which comprised undertaking one of the developmental finance institutions (DFIs) and Eskom will make an official
a socioeconomic impact study. Eskom announcement in due course.
has held extensive engagements with The Komati Repowering and Repurposing project is one of the largest coal-fired power
the employees, labour unions, the plant decommissioning, repowering and repurposing projects globally and will serve as a
community and all affected stakeholders global reference on how to transition fossil-fuel assets.
and communicated the requirement to
shut down the plant timeously and clearly Contact Eskom, Phone 011 800-3433/5944/6050, mediadesk@eskom.co.za

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