DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC ENTERPRISES
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
NATIONAL ASSEMBLE
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO.: 1021
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25 March 2011
1021. Mr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Public
Enterprises:â
(1) Whether any damage was caused to the turbines of Eskomâs Duvha
generating facility; if so, (a) what was the damage, (b) what caused the
damage, (c) what are the costs of repairing the damage and (d) when will
the repairs be completed;
(2) Whether he will make a statement on the matter? NW1138E
REPLY
(1) Unit 4 of Eskom's Duvha Power station was damaged on 9 February 2011 in
the course of a routine, scheduled, turbine over-speed protection test.
This is a statutory test that is conducted once a year. In order to conduct
the test, the unit is disconnected from the grid.
(a-c) In the execution of the test, the protection on the unit failed,
causing severe mechanical damage. Eskom immediately launched an
investigation into the incident. The investigation is still underway and
will cover an assessment of the damage, the cause thereof and the cost and
time to repair. It will not be possible to answer the questions raised in
(a) through (d) until the investigation is completed.
(2) A statement will be issued once the investigation has been completed.