Public Enterprises to brief oversight committee on Medupi explosion

The Department of Public Enterprises will on Wednesday brief the oversight committee on the recent explosion at the Medupi Power Station in Lephalale in Limpopo.

Eskom earlier said the unit exploded when workers were busy releasing hydrogen and accused them of deviation from maintenance procedures.

Four employees have since been suspended.

Meanwhile, energy expert Chris Yelland says there could be more reasons that led to the explosion.

He says the risk of load shedding cannot be ruled out.

“What appears to have happened before they open the generator instead of purging fully with carbon dioxide, they allowed air to get into the generator, which mixes the hydrogen causing an explosive mixture that ignited and really blew up the generator doing extensive damage to this extent. This generator is irreparable. If you follow the right procedure the probability of an accident is very very low. It could be just poor training, inexperienced, incompetence.”

The briefing will also shed light on the governance as well as financial status of Denel which has been unable to pay employee’s salaries and is facing liquidation.

In the video below, Eskom suspends employees over Medupi blast: