An article in Modern Power Systems (April 2009) warrants attention:
The 6 x 794 MW (gross) Medupi supercritical coal fired power plant is the biggest fossil power plant ever ordered by Eskom of South Africa, and will be the first baseload power plant to be built in the country in 20 years. Eskom has also awarded contracts for an identical follow-on plant, known as Kusile.
Key Points:
A wide range of mechanical and electrical skills will be transferred to local industry through a period of three to four years of training in such fields as design, building, maintenance and electrical technology.
Local industry will also benefit from the new power projects, which are required to have 50% local content, with a number of major components to be manufactured in South Africa (as well as Europe and China). This high level of local manufacture will create significant challenges, especially in conjunction with the ongoing infrastructure development related to the 2010 World Cup.
Indeed, South Africa is currently experiencing a period of unprecedently high capital investment, with consequent strain on the local supply chains. But so far South Africa’s indigenous industry is coping and seems up to the task of delivering the skills and equipment required to bring these giant projects in on time.
The full article is courtesy Modern Power Systems April 2009 Edition
You can read more about Medupi here
