[miningmx.com] – ESKOM warned of further load-shedding in South Africa on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday following the collapse of a coal silo at its Majuba plant which knocked out about 3,000MW of power.
Citing Andrew Etzinger, Eskom spokesman, Sapa reported that Eskom’s reserves were “basically exhausted” on November 2 when load-shedding was implemented. Etzinger told Sapa load-shedding was required in order to avoid a blackout.
Thava Govender, group executive for generation, said Majuba had six units, with the collapsed silo being the focal point where the primary coal conveyor belt met the rest of the plant’s distribution system.
The collapsed silo fed coal into units three and four, while units one, two, five, and six were supplied coal from two other silos, which received coal via the now-collapsed silo.
Unit one was now being supplied coal through trucks, 15 an hour, depositing coal by the remainder of the conveyer belt system, and using a manual or buffalo feeder to allow the units to receive coal.
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