Eskom: Sabotage at Tutuka Power Station is real
South Africa: Eskom has confirmed that Tutuka Power Station is the site of deliberate acts of sabotage.
Image source: ESI Africa
South Africa: Eskom has confirmed that Tutuka Power Station is the site of deliberate acts of sabotage.
Earlier this week a cable was severed and a control air pipe was cut at the coal-fired power station in Mpumalanga.
The severed cable was discovered as the power station was finalising preparations to return Unit 5 to service. The damage to the cable then delayed the unit’s return to service by three days as it took some time to locate the fault. Once discovered, the cable was quickly repaired and Unit 5 was returned to service.
Later the same day, the station control air pressure dropped and the same Unit 5 Turbine systems which consume control air for operation were de-energised. “it was later discovered that the control air pipe supplying the turbine systems had been cut with a power tool and the entire bend removed.
“Same was welded back on and the system charged with control air before being normalised,” read the Eskom press release. The unit was then returned to service late on 19 May.
“Eskom believes these were deliberate acts of sabotage by someone who had access to the sites where only employees have access and knows the security features in the area quite well.”
Eskom has laid criminal charges with the SA Police Services and its forensic team is assisting with the investigation into the Tutuka sabotage. This is the fifth incident of sabotage at Eskom reported to the police since March 2021.
The power utility has recently been steadily improving security at all its power stations and Tutuka Power Station has been beefed up with additional security personnel and smart technology. While this has resulted in a reduction of cable theft incidents at the particular power station, this latest incidence of sabotage is prompting Eskom to improve the facility’s security.
Source: ESI Africa