DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC ENTERPRISES

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

NATIONAL ASSEMBLE

QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO.: 1021

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25 March 2011

1021. Mr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises:†

(1) Whether any damage was caused to the turbines of Eskom's Duvha generating facility; if so, (a) what was the damage, (b) what caused the damage, (c) what are the costs of repairing the damage and (d) when will the repairs be completed (see City Press report);

(2) Whether he will make a statement on the matter?  NW1138E

REPLY

(1) Unit 4 of Eskom's Duvha Power station was damaged on 9 February 2011 in the course of a routine, scheduled, turbine over-speed protection test. This is a statutory test that is conducted once a year. In order to conduct the test, the unit is disconnected from the grid.

(a-c) In the execution of the test, the protection on the unit failed, causing severe mechanical damage. Eskom immediately launched an investigation into the incident. The investigation is still underway and will cover an assessment of the damage, the cause thereof and the cost and time to repair. It will not be possible to answer the questions raised in (a) through (d) until the investigation is completed.

(2) A statement will be issued once the investigation has been completed. 

Issued by Parliament, April 4 2011

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