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Matla power station is a 3,600-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Location
The map below shows the location of the plant, near Kriel, Nkangala District, Mpumalanga.
Background on Plant
The Matla Power Station is a coal-fired station owned by the South African publicly-owned electricity utility Eskom. The power station has an installed capacity of 3,600 megawatts (MW), comprising 6 X 600 MW units. The power station is located at Kriel, Mpumalanga.[1]
According to South Africa's 2019 Integrated Resource Plan, the plant's 50-year Life Decommissioning is projected for 2029-2033.[2] In April 2020, Eskom listed the planned retirement dates for the plant's six units between 2030 and 2034.[3]
In 2021, the Energy Systems Research Group (ESRG) found potential cost and greenhouse gas emissions savings if compliance with new standards is suspended for the Matla Power Station and the units are instead retired early.[4]
In October 2021, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment denied Eskom's request for environmental compliance postponement for the power station. Matla was also named as one of the highest-emitting stations.[5] Eskom appealed the decision and claimed that, if implemented, it "would have a significant negative impact on the economy and employment … and delay the country’s plans for an energy transition to a cleaner energy supply.”[6]
In May 2022, the Matla plant was sabotaged when a cable in Unit 1 was cut. This is part of a series of sabotages and thefts facing Eskom plants, following major loadshedding power outages caused by the company's aging infrastructure.[7]
In November 2022, several arrests were made after contracted truck drivers allegedly stole coal at the Matla power station.[8]
According to reports from December 2022, Unit 6 suffered damage to its electrical cables after spilled fuel oil started a localized fire. The damage was reportedly "not severe," and no foul play was suspected at the time.[9][10]
In May 2023, Eskom announced increased load shedding due to breakdowns at multiple power stations. At Matla, one unit had recently returned to service, while another unit had been delayed in returning online. Yet another unit had been taken offline after breaking down.[11]
Plant Details
- Sponsor: Eskom
- Parent company: Eskom
- Location: Kriel, Nkangala District, Mpumalanga, South Africa
- Coordinates: -26.2813319, 29.1415062 (exact)
- Status: Operating
- Gross capacity: 3,600 MW (Units 1-6: 600 MW)
- Type: Subcritical
- In service: 1979-83
- Project retirement: 2029-33 (or 2030-34)
- Coal type:
- Coal source:
- Source of financing:
Articles and Resources
Sources
- ↑ Eskom, "Generations Plant Mix Revision 8", May 2008
- ↑ "Integrated Resource Plan (IRP2019)," South Africa, October 2019 (figure 26)
- ↑ "Response of Eskom to CER, Reference number: PAIA 0087 MAN", CER website, April 28, 2020
- ↑ "Retire Power Stations Rather than Trying for Clean Coal", Mail & Guardian, March 18, 2021
- ↑ “Eskom to engage on way forward after being denied permission to delay air-quality compliance,” Engineering News, December 14, 2021
- ↑ "'No risk of power outages' as Eskom can appeal emission extension refusals," Times Live, December 15, 2021
- ↑ "'No attempt to disguise' latest incident of sabotage at Eskom power station as another cable is cut", News 24, May 23, 2022
- ↑ "A coal truck driver and his supervisor arrested for coal theft at Matla Power Station", Eskom, November 30, 2022
- ↑ "Fuel leak causes fire at Eskom's Matla power station," News24, December 14, 2022
- ↑ "De Ruyter gives Matla power station fire damage report," My Broadband, December 15, 2022
- ↑ "Loadshedding upped to stage 4 following breakdowns at power stations," Cape Town Etc, May 23, 2023
