New Build Programme

This is an update on Eskom's current construction (new build) projects. This includes power stations and transmission line projects.

Medupi Power Station

For more information, please email murraya@eskom.co.za

Build Programme in South Africa (Background) 

Additional power stations and major power lines are being built on a massive scale to meet rising electricity demand in South Africa. Eskom's capacity expansion budget is R385 billion up to 2013 and is expected to grow to more than a trillion rand by 2026. Ultimately Eskom will double its capacity to 80 000MW by 2026.

Since the programme started in 2005, an additional 4453.5 MW has already been commissioned. The plan is to deliver an additional 16 304MW in power station capacity by 2017.

The formal opening of both Ankerlig and Gourikwa open cycle gas turbine stations took place in October 2007. Both these stations have subsequently been expanded. At Gourikwa two more units have been added, each with 148MW capacity. These were completed in March 2009. The building of five additional units at Ankerlig with capacities ranging between 148.3 and 149.2 MW was also completed in March 2009.

In 2006, Eskom received a licence to build the first new coal-fired power station in more than 20 years being Medupi Power Station in Lephalale, Limpopo Province. An official sod turning took place on 14 August 2007 and to date terracing is approximately 60% complete and slip columns construction on the first two units is near complete.

On 29 February 2008 Eskom awarded contracts worth about R31,5 billion for its Kusile Power station, a coal-fired power station being built near Emalahleni in Mpumalanga. This station is expected to be completed in late 2016. Terracing work begun in mid 2008 and the first unit is planned to be online by 2013.

Work is also progressing well on Ingula pumped storage scheme near Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, with a planned capacity of 1 352MW. The station is planned to be fully operational by the middle of 2013. Construction on the proposed new Tubatse pumped storage scheme near Steelpoort is currently on hold.

In addition to these projects, Sere with a planned capacity of 100MW (wind farm technology) and Majuba rail have also been put on hold pending review.

A team of more than 2 500 engineering, project management and commercial resources, supplemented by 19 local and foreign engineering and project management companies who are contracted as partners over the next ten years, is working full-steam on the build programme.