Eskom has suspended employees who were on duty after a generator exploded at its Medupi Power Station on Sunday night.
It says preliminary investigations indicate that air was introduced into the generator to try to find a leak, while a large quantity of hydrogen gas was still present in the system. This resulted in the explosion.
“This we can now confirm it has resulted in extensive damage to the generator. The incident happened during an activity to displace hydrogen with carbon dioxide and air respectively for the purposes of finding an external leak. It appears that while performing this activity air was introduced into the generator at a point where hydrogen was still present which ignited and resulted in this explosion,” says Eskom Spokesperson Sikhonathi Mantshantsha.
Video: Eskom confirms that Unit 4 of its Medupi Power station experienced an explosion
Eskom says it will keep the public up to date on any effect that the incident will have on the power supply.
[ON AIR] Eskom says that the explosion at unit four at the Medupi power station will not lead to load shedding. @chrisyelland – Managing Director at EE Business Intelligence on #SAfmSunrise with @StephenGrootes #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/il5cQNSO7V
— SAfmRadio ? (@SAfmRadio) August 10, 2021
