Eskom has reintegrated Medupi Unit 4 into the national grid eight months ahead of schedule, adding 800MW of capacity.

“The unit’s return follows extensive repairs made possible by the innovative use of a refurbished Generator Stator – an alternative to waiting for a brand-new component,” the power utility said in a statement.

Unit 4 had been out of service since 8 August 2021 after sustaining significant damage due to the explosion of its Generator Stator, a critical component in the generation process. As an interim solution, Eskom sourced a used stator from the Netherlands, avoiding the lengthy delivery time required for a new one.

With Unit 4 back online, all six units at Medupi are now operational and will contribute a combined capacity of 4,800MW to the national grid once full output is reached in the coming weeks.

“We are confident that, like the other units, Unit 4 will deliver stable electricity to the national grid, enhancing South Africa’s energy security,” said Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom’s Group Executive for Generation.