JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — South Africa’s energy landscape is experiencing a significant operational turnaround as Eskom’s Medupi and Kusile power stations actively stabilize the national power supply and reduce the risk of load shedding. After years of delays and technical setbacks, the flagship coal-fired facilities are now successfully delivering thousands of megawatts to the grid, marking a critical milestone for the country’s long-term energy security.
Kusile has officially reached full commercial capacity, though the achievement comes after an 18-year timeline and a staggering cost of 233 billion rands, positioning it among the most expensive power stations globally. While these massive cost overruns have undeniably contributed to rising electricity prices, energy expert Prof. Sampson Mamphweli emphasizes the strategic necessity of the plants. With portions of the older coal fleet scheduled for decommissioning by 2039, maintaining reliable base load power remains essential.
According to Prof. Mamphweli, Medupi and Kusile now provide nearly 9 gigawatts (GW) of base load capacity to the nation. The facilities have demonstrated strong operational reliability, at times reaching an Energy Availability Factor (EAF) of approximately 90%, and are currently sustaining performance above a 65% EAF.
Addressing the historical 11-year delays and financial overruns, Prof. Mamphweli stressed that remedial actions and strict consequence management must be enforced. He pointed to the findings of the Zondo Commission, urging that proper investigations be followed through to establish accountability among the contractors and executives responsible for the setbacks.
Despite these challenges, the projects offer valuable lessons for the future. Prof. Mamphweli noted that the successful completion proves South Africa possesses the domestic skills required to drive the electricity generation sector. Furthermore, the plants are designed for a 40- to 45-year operational lifespan. Kusile’s state-of-the-art Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) system, in particular, provides a modern blueprint that can be used to retrofit older power stations and extend their longevity.
The improved performance of these mega-projects has had a direct impact on grid reliability. South Africa has experienced an extended period of more than 400 days without load shedding, largely aided by the stabilized output of these stations. In parallel, collaborative efforts between the Minister of Electricity and Eskom have successfully removed seven provinces from load reduction schedules, leaving only two provinces still affected.
Prof. Mamphweli highlighted that eradicating the remaining load reduction requires community cooperation. Illegal electricity connections in both informal and formal settlements continue to cause localized system overloads, necessitating targeted load reduction in specific areas.
Beyond coal, grid stability is now heavily bolstered by a massive influx of renewable energy. Nearly 11 GW of capacity from Independent Power Producers (IPPs), combined with almost 11 GW from household and business solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, has significantly relieved daytime grid constraints. Prof. Mamphweli credited government incentives that encouraged proactive solar adoption during the height of the energy crisis.
This diversified energy mix has allowed Eskom to build approximately 6 GW of operational reserves. These reserves, coupled with the Operation Generation Recovery Plan initiated under the President’s Energy Action Plan, have enabled the utility to resolve auxiliary plant issues and maintain rigorous maintenance schedules. As a result, Eskom is well-positioned to sustain grid stability and manage unexpected eventualities without resorting to a renewed maintenance crisis.
