The power station was commissioned between November 1975 and February 1984, and planned to operate until 2044. There were currently 26 units in the maintenance backlog and the target was to eliminate backlog by end 2013. Eskom was using open cycle gas turbines (OCGT) designed as peaking power and emergency reserves. They are diesel-fired and cost 10-15 times much more than coal-fired stations. OCGT usage has increased in 2011 and 2012 in order to create space for maintenance.