Tutuka Power Station
Tutuka Power Station in Mpumalanga, South Africa, is a coal-fired power plant operated by Eskom. It is a twin sister to Duvha Power Station.
| Tutuka Power Station | |
|---|---|
Location of Tutuka Power Station | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Location | Mpumalanga |
| Coordinates | 26°46′43″S 29°21′7″E |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | 1985[1] |
| Owner(s) | Eskom |
| Operator(s) | |
| Thermal power station | |
| Primary fuel | Coal |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 6[1] |
| Nameplate capacity | 3,654 Megawatt[1] |
History
The first unit at Tutuka was commissioned in June 1985 and the last went online in June 1990.
Power generation
The station has six 609MW units with a total installed capacity of 3,654MW with turbine Maximum Continuous Rating at 38.00%. Tutuka is an important link in the 765kV extra-high-voltage transmission system linking Mpumalanga with the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.[1]
Crime and corruption
In 2020 the installation of a substandard submerged scraper chain at unit 5 of Tutuka was thwarted.[2] These items were the cause of many breakdowns at Tutuka. The investigation that followed uncovered widespread and costly corruption which exploited lax equipment ordering and warehousing.[2] In November 2021 two persons employed by the station and a supplier of goods and services were arrested. They were charged with theft, fraud and corruption in connection with the disappearance of spares.[3] It was further alleged that four persons operated an oil crime syndicate which had been stealing large amounts of fuel from the station, valued at hundreds of millions of rand.[4] Mid-December 2022, at the request of the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, and President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of Defence Thandi Modise deployed a small contingent of SANDF troops at the station (besides at Camden, Majuba and Grootvlei) to curb a growing threat of sabotage, theft, vandalism and corruption.[5]
References
- "Tutuka Power Station". Eskom. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
- "Phone call to Andre de Ruyter saved South Africa billions". Energy. Daily Investor. dailyinvestor.com. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- "Eskom staff arrested for spares fraud, while R100m in fuel is stolen monthly from power station". news24.com. fin24. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- Baloyi, Thabo (6 November 2021). "Eskom: Two employees stole R100m worth of fuel oil PER MONTH". thesouthafrican.com. The South African. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- Evans, Julia (4 January 2023). "A country 'ungovernable' — how Eskom plans to tackle the scourge of sabotage, fraud and corruption in 2023". Defend Truth. www.dailymaverick.co.za. Daily Maverick. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
External links
- Tutuka Power Station on the Eskom-Website
