COAL SUPPLIES

The Vierfontein Colliery was part of the Anglo American Corporation and the colliery was planned to produce 155 000 tons/month. The coal was found at varying depths from 30 to 300 feet [9 to 90 m] in a single seam 4 to 7,5 feet [1,2 to 2,3 m] thick. It was brought to the surface by endless rope haulage in incline shafts. The ash content was about 22% and the volatile content about 20%. The calorific value of the coal received averaged over 21 MJ/kg up to 1968. From 1969 until closure of the station the average value was slightly below 20 MJ/kg. (South African Electrical Review, March 1950:23; Sept.1951:26-31; ESCOM Annual Reports-Tables of Power Station Operating Statistics) A slight restriction in output at the station was necessary in 1957, and for the first few months of 1958, due to a shortage of unskilled labour at the colliery. By the end of 1958 the position had returned to normal. (ESCOM Annual Reports 1957:54, 1958:46-47)

Vierfontein Power Station was adversely affected by the Coalbrook mining disaster in the Northern Free State that entombed 437 miners and dozens of ponies. This disaster occurred on 21 January 1960. On 4 March 1960 ESCOM was advised that the East shaft of the Vierfontein Colliery had been closed in the interests of safety. Output at the West shaft was stepped up, but supplies to the power station would be reduced in the ensuing two weeks to 23 000 tons and 25 000 tons respectively, and thereafter to about 27 000 tons per week. The average burning rate at Vierfontein the previous year was over 29 000 tons per week [2000 lb]. An intermediate change of loading at the power station was made.

On the morning of 7 March 1960 the haulage at the Vierfontein West shaft broke down and caused a complete stoppage of coal for 32 hours. On the same evening ESCOM was advised that the ad hoc Committee on safety had ordered the closing of the Coalbrook North Colliery. The closing of the Coalbrook South Colliery followed on 12 March 1960. As a result, a reduction in electricity supply to consumers could not be avoided. Supplies had to be reduced from 13 March 1960. Emergency arrangements had already been made to bring coal to Taaibos and to Highveld from wherever available. Coal from Cornelia colliery near Vereeniging was railed to Taaibos, as Witbank coal proved unsuitable in the pulverised fuel boilers. Klip and Vereeniging had stoker-fired boilers, and Witbank coal was taken there. Coal now also had to be brought to Vierfontein – by rail and by road. The heavy trucks bringing the coal by day and night, had to use the road from the property entrance to the coal off-loading facilities. They went right past the houses of the senior staff, who were unable to sleep a wink for days on end. The beautiful driveway became completely wrecked.

Coalbrook collieries restarted limited production on 18 March 1960 and by the next day power station production was almost back to normal. Full supplies of electricity were restored by the beginning of April 1960. However, a further movement of strata in the North Colliery occurred on 30 March 1961 and as a result of this the Colliery Company decided to abandon the North Colliery. Plans for development of the Eastern shafts were then made. (ESCOM Annual Report 1959:9; Conradie & Messerschmidt 2000:121-123)

ASH DISPOSAL

Each boiler could produce about 4 tons of ash per hour. The ash was removed via paddle tanks and conveyed to three ash bins by conveyor belts and thence to ash dumps by aerial mono-cable ropeway. The ash dumps were located about 1000 feet [300 m] from the station and the estimated capacity of each ash dump was about 13 million cubic yards [10 million cubic metres] at a height of 300 feet [91 m]. At closure of the station the ash dumps were taken over by Roshcon, a Division of Eskom Enterprises, for the making of building bricks. (South African Electrical Review, March 1950:23; ESCOM-Vierfontein Power Station 1959)

STAFF

Vierfontein Power Station was the first accident prevention unit in ESCOM to achieve 3 million man-hours worked without a disabling injury. In recognition of this the station was awarded the RL Straszacker Trophy. On Friday 28 July 1972 the station had the honour of being host to Dr Straszacker, ESCOM’s Chairman, Mr Jan H Smith, who became Chairman in 1980, their ladies and a number of other VIP’s, to celebrate the breaking of this all-ESCOM record. The previous Power Station Manager, Mr Alan Harley, under whose leadership so much had been done, was also present. The trophy was handed to Mr TCA van der Walt, the Power Station Manager at the time. The next day a display of tribal dancing was held and also a soccer match between Vierfontein and Wilge, narrowly won by Vierfontein. (ESCOM Megawatt No.25/1972:22).

During the early 1980’s the staff complement consisted of 774 employees. At closure of the power station the staff members were transferred to other sites or took retirement. (ESCOM Brochure – Klip, Vaal & Vierfontein Power Stations)

COMMUNITY, SPORTS AND RECREATION

A well-built township, laid out on modern lines with parks and tree-lined avenues, was established for the staff about a kilometre from the power station. By 1951 ninety-three dwelling houses, a block of single quarters, a guest house and a boarding house with caretakers’ quarters had been built. The guest house was intended for visiting officials. Additional houses were also under construction. The dwelling houses averaged about 1200 square feet [110 square metres] in area. Amenities such as tennis courts, bowling greens, football fields, swimming bath and a recreation hall for cinema shows and dances were provided. A modern compound was built for the Black employees with kitchen, mess room, recreation hall, washrooms, a hospital and church. Facilities for football and cinema shows were also available. Married Black employees were provided with houses complete with bedrooms, a living room and kitchen. (ESCOM Annual Report 1951:10; South African Electrical Review, March 1951:23; ESCOM-Vierfontein Power Station 1959)

A fine church was built in 1956 by the power station and colliery flock. Harold Williams and Peter Wilson were at that time respectively managers at the power station and at the colliery. Money-raising functions were organised to buy materials and equipment. Various contractors building the power station at that time also donated materials. Men and women worked during weekends and their leisure hours in laying the bricks, sewing linen and making fittings. Although it was an Anglican church, it was also used by other denominations. This church stood on the grounds of the Vierfontein Colliery. (ESCOM News No.188/9 Dec 1992:15)

By 1957 the number of houses in the village had grown to 161 and there were 98 single rooms. There were 415 persons living in the village of whom 116 were employed on the station, 130 were wives and 216 were children. The compound provided for 354 persons. (de Villiers 1957:19)

TRAINING STATION

During 1989 it was decided to use Vierfontein as a training station for young engineers and non-technical management personnel. An intensive eight-week training course was developed, after which students would be able to take the plant from cold reserve to full load and then back to cold reserve again. The advantage of Vierfontein as a training station was that the station had been designed largely for manual control. Electronic systems played a less important role and computer control was not employed as in modern stations. This meant that the various processes involved were more easily visible and could be more readily followed. Problems had to be identified and solutions found by the operator himself, which gave him valuable experience. Specialists were called in at various stages to explain new developments and systems. Later, the training programme was moved to Wilge Power Station in the Eastern Transvaaal, now Mpumalanga. ESCOM News No.124/30 May 1989:3&6, No.127/14 July 1989:7, No.158/7 Dec 1990:1)
CLOSURE AND DEMOLITION
During the 1980’s Eskom had been commissioning its new giant six-pack power stations. But due to a decrease in the rate of growth for the demand of electricity, Eskom began to experience a surplus of generation capacity. The older and less efficient stations were thus no longer required. Some stations were mothballed (stored under special conditions that would mean perhaps months before they could be returned to service) and other stations were totally decommissioned. Vierfontein was one of the stations to be decommissioned. (Conradie and Messerschmidt 2000:259-260)

FAREWELL TO VIERFONTEIN

‘AS WE GATHER HERE TDAY TO SAY AU REVIR TO THIS GRAND OLD THERMAL LADY, WE NEED TO RECALL WHERE OUR ROOTS LIE, AS THEY HAVE GIVEN US DIRECTION AND STRENGTH FOR THE FUTURE.”

With these words Dr Ian McRae, Chief Executive of Eskom, officially closed down the Vierfontein power station on 23 November, after nearly 40 years of operation. Work began on the site in March 1950, and the first set came into commercial operation in May 1953. For the first time in South Africa, 132kV low-oil volume circuit breakers of 2 500 rupturing capacity were employed – at that time the largest to be developed. Vierfontein was built on what was then a newly discovered coalfield, which became known later as Vierfontein collieries. Consequently, transportation of coal was virtually eliminated, and the boiler machinery was adapted especially to burn the low-grade – and therefore cheap coal. Water for cooling purposes was pumped from the nearby Vaal River into five 10 000 litre cooling towers measuring 86.4 m in height, among the highest at that time.