MPUMALANGA – South Africa’s Kusile Power Station is now operating at full commercial capacity, marking a turning point in the country’s energy security after years of setbacks and delays.
President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the Mpumalanga facility on Friday to address Eskom workers and witness progress at the power station, located in the Nkangala District Municipality.
The completion of Kusile Unit 6 in September last year, which added 800 MW to the grid, marked the end of Eskom’s Build Programme that included the Medupi Power Station in Limpopo. Together, the two stations generate 9 600 MW at full operational capacity.
“It is a pleasure to be here to bear witness to the great strides Eskom has made towards restoring our country’s energy security,” Ramaphosa said in his address to the workforce and leadership.
The president noted that Kusile, whose name means “the dawn has come”, has become one of the most reliable stations in the Eskom fleet, achieving an average Energy Availability Factor of 74%, increasing to 90% on occasion.
Ramaphosa described the two power stations, designed to be among the biggest in Africa and the world, as the backbone of South Africa’s energy supply. Both stations are designed for an operational lifespan of 50 years.
“What has been achieved here at Kusile, and indeed across all Eskom’s power stations, is a testament to discipline, consistency and resilience,” he said.
The country is approaching 365 days without load shedding, a significant improvement from the severe power cuts that disrupted lives and constrained economic growth when the Energy Action Plan was announced in 2022.
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The Energy Availability Factor has increased to 65%, some 4% higher than the same period last year.
“South Africa’s improved energy supply is a welcome relief for millions of households and businesses across the country,” Ramaphosa said.
However, the president acknowledged the difficulties in completing Kusile, which was plagued by cost overruns, technical problems and contractor performance issues throughout the project lifespan.
The State Capture Commission uncovered widespread corruption at Kusile that nearly brought Eskom to financial ruin.
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“I wish to acknowledge Eskom’s leadership for supporting the efforts of our law enforcement authorities to recover stolen money and hold those found guilty accountable,” Ramaphosa said.
He assured that the country has learned from that period, adding that the experience has sharpened resolve to ensure projects of this scale adhere to the highest standards of governance, financial controls and accountability.
Ramaphosa said South Africa is undergoing the most fundamental reform of its electricity sector in more than a century, which will modernise the energy system, enable new investment and lower electricity costs.
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