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Matla power station is an operating power station of at least 3600-megawatts (MW) in Kriel, Nkangala, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Matla power station | Kriel, Nkangala, Mpumalanga, South Africa | -26.281332, 29.141506 (exact) |
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6: -26.281332, 29.141506
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 600 | subcritical | 1979 | 2030 (planned) |
| Unit 2 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 600 | subcritical | 1980 | 2031 (planned) |
| Unit 3 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 600 | subcritical | 1980 | 2031 (planned) |
| Unit 4 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 600 | subcritical | 1981 | 2032 (planned) |
| Unit 5 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 600 | subcritical | 1982 | 2033 (planned) |
| Unit 6 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 600 | subcritical | 1983 | 2034 (planned) |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100%] | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100%] | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 3 | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100%] | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 4 | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100%] | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 5 | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100%] | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 6 | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100%] | Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd [100.0%] |
Background
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]
In early September 2023, Eskom increased load shedding to Stage 6, equal to 6,000 MW, after breakdowns of coal units at Matla and Lethabo power station. Eskom said 16,210 MW of generating capacity had broken down, and a further 5,894 MW was offline for planned maintenance.[12]
According to reporting from August 2024, improvements in Matla’s energy availability factor (EAF) had “contributed significantly to the continued suspension of load shedding” in the country.[13]
Environmental impact
According to an analysis by Reuters published in September 2023, four Eskom power stations — Kriel power station, Matimba power station, Matla power station, and Kendal power station — had breached regulations for particulate matter emissions in the prior year.[14]
According to a March 2024 report on air pollution in Africa by Greenpeace, Matla power station and Kriel power station were Africa's two largest point sources of nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution from May 2018 to November 2021. Another seven Eskom coal plants appeared in the report's list of the ten largest NOx emissions hotspots in Africa for that period. The report noted that government data on emissions in Africa is patchy, so the authors relied on satellite measurements.[15]
In May 2024, South Africa's Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment approved an exemption for Hendrina power station, Kriel power station, Grootvlei power station, Camden power station, and Arnot power station from a 2010 sulphur dioxide emissions control rule. The power stations were authorized to operate through 2030 without meeting the standard. In June 2024, Eskom indicated that it intended to apply for exemptions for Matla power station, Duvha power station, Tutuka power station, and Kendal power station as well.[16]
In March 2025, both Duvha power station and Matla power station were granted exemptions from the Minimum Emissions Standards (MES) until the coal plants close in 2034. Eskom had applied for the exemptions in December 2024. Six other Eskom coal plants (Kendal, Lethabo, Majuba, Matimba, Medupi, and Tutuka) were granted five-year exemptions from the MES.[17][18]
Incidents
In December 2024, a high-pressured steam pipe above a transformer at Unit 6 burst and caused an explosion at the power station. Nine employees were injured.[19]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 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
- ↑ "Stage 6 loadshedding will be implemented from 05:00 on Tuesday until further notice," Eskom, September 4, 2023
- ↑ “Eskom says Matla Power Station helping suspension of load shedding,” SABC News, August 21, 2024
- ↑ "Exclusive: South African utility Eskom pollutes more in bid to keep lights on," Reuters, September 27, 2023
- ↑ "Major Air Polluters in Africa Unmasked," Greenpeace Africa and Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa, March 2024
- ↑ Eskom to apply for MES exemptions for four coal stations that will operate beyond 2030, Engineering News, June 21, 2024
- ↑ “George insists new air-pollution exemptions for eight Eskom coal stations not a ‘blanket reprieve’,” Engineering News, March 31, 2025
- ↑ “Dr Dion George holds Eskom accountable on emissions standards,” Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, March 31, 2025
- ↑ “Matla Power Station Unit 6 incident – 9 people confirmed injured; investigation begins: no impact to summer outlook,” Eskom, December 13, 2024
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
