The document summarizes a recent incident at Majuba power station in which one of the coal storage silos collapsed, reducing the station's output from 3,600 MW to 600 MW. It discusses the system outlook, noting load shedding may be needed this week to manage tight capacity margins. Consumers are urged to reduce electricity usage to help stabilize the grid during this challenging time. An investigation into the silo collapse is underway.

1. Media Briefing Damage to Majuba power station coal storage silo 03 November 2014 Tshediso Matona Chief Executive

2. 2
Introduction
Conclusion
Majuba power station incident
The system outlook and plan

3. 3
Introduction
Conclusion
Majuba power station incident
The system outlook and plan

4. Majuba power station – situated in the Mpumalanga Province
4
Majuba
It is the youngest commercially operated power station in the fleet

5. Majuba Power Station
•Majuba Power Station, situated in Mpumalanga, has an installed capacity of 4110 MW generated
•The station is 13 years old and became fully operational in 2001 when the last of its six units came on line
•Three, 10 000 ton coal storage silos were constructed in 1994
•The latest civil visual inspection was conducted in September 2013 by an external specialist, in line with best practice
•The concrete structure was found to be in good condition.
•Some moderate cases of external physical damage that was reported has since been repaired
•The risk classification was low
5

6. Sequence of events (1 November 2014)
1 November 2014 All Majuba power station units were running normally, contracted loads
Approximately 12:30
Operating staff reported a visible crack on silo 20
Immediately thereafter all personnel working in the area evacuated
13:12
Silo 20 collapsed
No injuries reported.
The area was secured and protected
Station output immediately reduced from 3 600 MW to 1800 MW and currently running at 600 MW

7. Majuba silo

8. Majuba response
Senior Engineers and members of the Executive Committee immediately joined the Power Station manager on-site
Eskom triggered its Emergency Command Centre. First priority was to protect the power grid and look at the impact of power supply to the country
Arrangements were made for permits to transport mobile coal feeders to site to enable a manual feed of coal to five of the six units. This to ensure that the power station is able to operate at a minimum of half- load
The cause and cost are yet to be determined as the incident is now under investigation
As a result of the early evacuation no injuries were reported
The situation is being constantly monitored and progress updates on contingency plans will be communicated

9. 9
Introduction
Conclusion
Majuba power station incident
The system outlook and plan

10. Majuba
Main Supply, Coal from Coal Stock Yard,
(Overland conveyers), 2 250 T/h
Coal Supply to the Unit, (boiler Incline conveyer) 800T/h
Max burn rate per Unit, 375 T/h. Station burn rate, 54 000 T/day
Over silo link Conveyers, 1200T/h

11. Majuba
Coal stockyard

12. Majuba

13. Majuba

14. 14
Introduction
Conclusion
Majuba power station incident
The system outlook and plan

15. 15
Summer profile
•The system remains tight in summer, with different challenges due to the load profile
•Unlike winter, where the demand increases significantly during the evening peak (5pm - 9pm), the demand profile during summer is much flatter with an increased demand profile throughout the day
•This is because of a relatively high percentage of almost constant industrial load and the impact of air conditioning in the commercial and marginally in the residential sector during the day. The significant residential component over evening peak is not as evident in summer. If there is a constraint, the system is constrained all day
•Summer is typically maintenance season, but this summer maintenance will increase based on the generation strategy as most of the maintenance is fixed and can’t be deferred.
•The challenge is to ensure that there is sufficient generation capacity throughout the day, as we continue with our maintenance plan and focus on reducing unplanned outages
•The degree of tightness will depend on the performance of the plant and the level of unplanned maintenance (UCLF) as well as the available capacity
•Eskom will not compromise its generation plant and will load shed if necessary to protect the power system from total collapse

16. Summer profile continued
•Summer poses a different challenge as the profile looks flat and our planned maintenance (PCLF) increases significantly compared to Winter
16
22000
24000
26000
28000
30000
32000
34000
00:00
01:00
02:00
03:00
04:00
05:00
06:00
07:00
08:00
09:00
10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
14:00
15:00
16:00
17:00
18:00
19:00
20:00
21:00
22:00
23:00
Summer points to note
•Table Mountain profile
•Constrained all day incl. from 6am - 10pm
•Air-conditioning, geysers & pool pumps primarily impact demand
•Commercial, agricultural & residential customers can make the biggest difference
Constrained all day

17. •Renewable independent power producers peak at over 900 MW (about 1 274 MW installed)
•As we move more into a flatter profile, the renewables will increasingly offset some of the OCGT usage
•IPPs (wind & solar variability) unavailable during evening peak when demand is high
Impact of renewable generation on the system
17
September hourly Solar (PV) and Wind
Overlap of renewable generation and OCGT for one week
The situation today has been exaggerated by the generally cloudy conditions across the entire country which has reduced the supply from solar plants by almost 500 MW

18. Sunday: No loss of additional MW and Majuba at 600MW output
18
Keeping to scheduled hours at Palmiet and Drakensberg.
Date
Time
Current Avail Cap (Incl Primary Constraints)
MW Expected to Return/Go Off
Forecast
Shortfall/Surplus on demand
02/11/2014
00:00 to 01:00
27440
0
22411
5029
02/11/2014
01:00 to 02:00
27440
0
22021
5419
02/11/2014
02:00 to 03:00
27440
0
21835
5605
02/11/2014
03:00 to 04:00
27440
0
21717
5723
02/11/2014
04:00 to 05:00
27440
0
21894
5546
02/11/2014
05:00 to 06:00
27440
0
22527
4913
02/11/2014
06:00 to 07:00
27890
0
23982
3908
02/11/2014
07:00 to 08:00
28590
0
25945
2645
02/11/2014
08:00 to 09:00
28590
0
27449
1141
02/11/2014
09:00 to 10:00
28590
0
27857
733
02/11/2014
10:00 to 11:00
28590
0
27699
891
02/11/2014
11:00 to 12:00
28590
0
27606
984
02/11/2014
12:00 to 13:00
28590
0
27407
1183
02/11/2014
13:00 to 14:00
28590
0
26817
1773
02/11/2014
14:00 to 15:00
28590
0
26181
2409
02/11/2014
15:00 to 16:00
28590
0
26011
2579
02/11/2014
16:00 to 17:00
28590
0
26155
2435
02/11/2014
17:00 to 18:00
28590
0
26674
1916
02/11/2014
18:00 to 19:00
28590
0
27902
688
02/11/2014
19:00 to 20:00
28790
0
29491
-701
02/11/2014
20:00 to 21:00
28590
0
28155
435
02/11/2014
21:00 to 22:00
28590
0
25785
2805
02/11/2014
22:00 to 23:00
27690
0
24036
3654
02/11/2014
23:00 to 00:00
27440
0
22690
4750

19. Monday: Units return as expected and Majuba at 600 MW output
19
Keeping to scheduled hours at Palmiet and Drakensberg.
Date
Time
Current Avail Cap (Incl Primary Constraints)
MW Expected to Return/Go Off
Forecast
Shortfall/Surplus on demand
03/11/2014
00:00 to 01:00
27440
679
22217
5902
03/11/2014
01:00 to 02:00
27440
1358
21921
6802
03/11/2014
02:00 to 03:00
27440
1358
21856
6867
03/11/2014
03:00 to 04:00
27440
1358
22265
6458
03/11/2014
04:00 to 05:00
27440
1451
23591
5132
03/11/2014
05:00 to 06:00
28590
1543
26898
2975
03/11/2014
06:00 to 07:00
28590
1543
28346
1527
03/11/2014
07:00 to 08:00
28590
1543
27931
1942
03/11/2014
08:00 to 09:00
28590
1543
28676
1197
03/11/2014
09:00 to 10:00
28590
1543
28835
1038
03/11/2014
10:00 to 11:00
29040
1543
29146
1177
03/11/2014
11:00 to 12:00
29040
1543
29057
1266
03/11/2014
12:00 to 13:00
29040
1543
29019
1304
03/11/2014
13:00 to 14:00
28840
1543
28820
1303
03/11/2014
14:00 to 15:00
29090
1543
28882
1491
03/11/2014
15:00 to 16:00
28590
1543
29382
491
03/11/2014
16:00 to 17:00
28590
1543
29621
252
03/11/2014
17:00 to 18:00
29240
1543
29878
905
03/11/2014
18:00 to 19:00
29990
1543
30868
665
03/11/2014
19:00 to 20:00
29990
1543
31317
216
03/11/2014
20:00 to 21:00
29990
1543
30157
1116
03/11/2014
21:00 to 22:00
28590
1543
27986
1887
03/11/2014
22:00 to 23:00
28590
1236
25914
3652
03/11/2014
23:00 to 00:00
27890
928
24569
3989

20. Outlook
1. Sunday
•Sunday shedding at Stage 2 will build up reserves for the week ahead
•The current projection is to keep load shedding Stage 2 to ensure significant recovery of the Peaking resources to ensure the impact of load shedding is less severe during the week
•Solar & wind currently sending out 160 MW and 90 MW respectively. Solar is normally up to 500 MW (cloudiness affecting it significantly). Majuba currently sending out about 600 MW (2 machines at half load)
2. Monday projection
•Generation Capacity at 31 500 MW for the day, provided we do not have any further breakdowns
•Demand forecast for evening peak (31 317 MW highest of the day)
•Risk of load shedding in particular between 18:00 – 20:00
20

21. Outlook continued
3. The rest of the week
•If the capacity stays at the same level, we would have similar system status. With the extensive usage of the water resources it would mean by Wednesday we start to be constrained with water
•If the capacity is still at the same level we would need to consider Stage 1 load shedding possibly on Thursday (whole day) or as early as Wednesday evening ( 4 – 6 hours)
21

22. How can consumers help?
•Saving electricity reduces pressure on the grid and cuts your electricity bill and South Africa’s carbon emissions
•The power system remains vulnerable all day up to 10pm
1.Switch off air-conditioning or use efficiently
- Set air-conditioning at 23 degrees
2.Switch off all geysers and pool pumps all day until 10pm
3.Switch off all non-essential lighting
4.Respond to the Power Alert messages by switching off all appliances that are not being used
22

23. 23
Introduction
Conclusion
Majuba power station incident
The system outlook and plan

24. Conclusion
•While the system is tight, this unplanned incident exacerbated the situation and it is very likely that load shedding will continue for the week
•An investigation is already underway into the cause of the incident, but it appears that this is an isolated incident specific to the coal infrastructure at Majuba.
•Mobile coal feeders are on-site and the team is optimistic that they can maintain half of the total from the power station
•The Minister of DPE is being kept abreast of all developments. Eskom has also informed all key stakeholders including the Department of Education and the national disaster management centre to minimise the impact for matriculants and all communities
•Eskom apologises to all electricity consumers but call on you yet again to switch off unnecessary lights, the geyser, pool pump and air-conditioning
•Load shedding schedules are available on Eskom website, and municipal customers should contact their municipalities for details
•We are painfully aware of the impact of this incident given the electricity supply situation in the country
•We will continue to communicate via the media

25. Thank you
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