Stage 4 load-shedding still going: Friday’s schedule
Eskom expects that load-shedding at reduced stages may continue into the weekend.
Jellyfish and other marine life, which clogged a filter in a sea water cooling pump at Koeberg Power Station, necessitated the switch off of Unit 1 at the power station earlier this week.
Eskom on Thursday said Unit 1 was manually tripped by the operators in line with operating procedure. The reason for the manual trip was as a result of the increasing temperature on the secondary side of the plant due to degraded heat removal (or cooling) capability because the pump that remained in service was not able to remove heat.
The circulating cooling water system pump tripped due to the low level in the suction pit as a result of the drum filter that was clogged by an acute ingress of marine life (jellyfish and fish), said Eskom.
According to Eskom, normally, Koeberg units are able to survive a trip of one circulating cooling water system pump. The actions required from the operators are to reduce power to below 60 per cent and to ensure that temperatures on the secondary side stabilise.
In this case the temperature did not stabilise due to the heat exchanger remaining in service had reduced heat transfer efficiency.
The excess marine life and debris had been cleared off the drum filter and it is back in service. The level in the suction pit has sufficiently recovered and the circulating water system pump has been but back in service. The pump had not been damaged as initially feared.
The required technical assessments and regulatory approvals have been obtained to start up and safely return the Koeberg Unit 1 back on the grid. The projected synchronisation date is Sunday.
In the meantime, stage 4 load-shedding will continue until Friday evening. Eskom expects that load-shedding at reduced stages may continue into the weekend.
Thembisa’s schedule for Friday is:
7.30am – 10.30am: Emangweni, Ext10, Illiliba, Emoyeni, Emfilhweni, Isiziba, Isekelo, Endulweni, Elindinga, Igqagqa, Isithame, Emoyeni, Mqantsa, Xubeni, Ecaleni, Ext 7, Ext 9, Ext 8
10am – 1pm: Winnie Mandela Park Ext 4, Winnie Mandela Park Ext 1, Moriting, Mashimong, Kopanong, Makulong, Sethokga, Sedibeng, Hospital View/Gardens & Hill
12.30pm – 3.30pm: Maokeng, Tlamatlama, Kopanong, Tsepo, Tsenelong, Temong, Leboeng, Ext 5, Winnie Mandela
3pm – 6pm: Winnie Mandela, Winnie Mandela Zones (Clayville), Clayville 13, Douglass, Clayville East
5.30pm – 8.30pm: Birch Acres from Ext 23 upto Ext 44, Jiyane, Isiphetweni, Ehlanzeni, Welomlambo, Vusimuzi, Isiziba, Ibaxa, Inxiweni, Emfilweni, Emkatini, Ibazelo, Igqagqa, Isithame, Isivana, Ethafeni, Endulweni, Esiziba
8pm – 11pm: Ext 5, Teanong, Seotloana, Motsu, Moteong, Lekaneng, Lifateng, Thiteng, Esangweni, Umthabeka, Umfuyaneni, Ext 11, Entshonalanga, Endayeni, Gahlantso, Umnonjaneni, Entshonalanga, Moedi, Kgatlamping
10.30pm – midnight: Emangweni, Ext10, Illiliba, Emoyeni, Emfilhweni, Isiziba, Isekelo, Endulweni, Elindinga, Igqagqa, Isithame, Emoyeni, Mqantsa, Xubeni, Ecaleni, Ext 7, Ext 9, Ext 8
Midnight – 3am: Maokeng, Tlamatlama, Kopanong, Tsepo, Tsenelong, Temong, Leboeng, Ext 5, Winnie Mandela
2.30am – 5.30am: Winnie Mandela, Winnie Mandela Zones (Clayville), Clayville 13, Douglass, Clayville East
