Medupi produces its first power

Synchronisation, or first power, is the process whereby the generator in the unit is electrically connected to the national power grid so that its power is aligned with all the other generators on the grid to deliver electricity.

Tshediso Matona, Eskom’s chief executive said this is the final stage marking a milestone towards full commercial power.

“Today, we celebrate the achievement with team Medupi. The electricity flowing into the grid marks a new beginning,” he said.

“Within the next three months, South Africa will see Medupi Unit 6’s full potential of 794 megawatts being fed into the South African national grid. I congratulate team Medupi for their efforts in achieving this important milestone for South Africa.”

He also stated that in anticipation of commercial operation, a power station manager has been appointed. Matona said the past six years had been spent training and developing a core set of people who will operate the cutting-edge technology that makes this power station unique as it’s a greenfield coal-fired power plant. He said that approximately 350 men and women are waiting to join the team who are making history when the unit becomes fully operational.

“While Unit 6 is the first of Medupi’s six units, it should be noted that all required auxiliary services for the entire power station are ready to ensure that Medupi’s total output of 4 764 megawatts is fully synchronised to the South African power grid,” Matona added.