Eskom Adds 800MW of New Capacity to the Grid for the First Time
Johannesburg – Eskom has confirmed the integration of the final unit of Kusile Power Station, Unit 6, into the national grid.
In a statement issued on Sunday, (23 March 2025), Eskom expressed that they are “pleased to announce the successful integration of Kusile Power Station’s final unit, Unit 6, into the national grid today at 16:45.”
The power utility remarked: “This milestone signifies a vital achievement in the completion of one of South Africa’s largest infrastructure projects and is crucial in Eskom’s strategic goal of adding 2,500MW of new capacity to the grid by March 2025.”
Eskom noted that Kusile Power Station will provide a total of 4,800MW to the national grid once all units are operational, making it the largest infrastructure project in South Africa.
“Its counterpart, Medupi, is expected to bring back 800MW from Unit 4 by the end of April 2025 after a prolonged outage due to a generator stator failure and the project’s completion,” Eskom stated.
“Once Kusile Unit 6 is in commercial operation, both of South Africa’s new build power station projects will essentially be complete.”
Eskom also disclosed that Kusile is the first power station in South Africa and Africa to incorporate Wet Flue Gas Desulphurisation (WFGD) technology, ensuring adherence to air quality standards and aligning with global best practices to minimize sulphur dioxide emissions.
“Eskom is at a critical juncture in restoring megawatts to the grid as we are currently in a constrained state,” commented Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom’s Group Executive for Generation.
“This milestone reflects the relentless dedication and resilience of Eskom’s workforce and contractors.
“Their unwavering commitment has propelled us forward despite numerous challenges.
“As we acknowledge this advancement, our attention now shifts to ensuring that Unit 6 achieves commercial operation in the latter half of 2025, further bolstering South Africa’s energy security.”
Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane, stated: “The addition of Kusile Unit 6 is evidence that we are making consistent strides in stabilizing and enhancing South Africa’s electricity supply.
“Achieving the targets outlined in the Generation Recovery Plan and our strategic roadmap highlights our determination to deliver new capacity, boost generation performance, foster economic growth, and ultimately provide a more sustainable energy future.
“We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that South Africa does not return to the levels of loadshedding experienced in 2023, with our focus remaining on providing a more reliable, resilient, and sustainable power system for the nation.”
Eskom indicated that over the next six months, the unit will undergo comprehensive testing and optimization before reaching commercial operation, at which point its 800MW capacity will officially be added to the Eskom generation fleet.
“With this new milestone, Eskom continues to commit to executing the Generation Operational Recovery Plan, enhancing governance, and future-proofing the organization,” the power utility added.
“This is essential for ensuring energy security, growth, and long-term sustainability for the benefit of South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.”