Nine injured following explosion at Eskom's Matla Power Station

Nine people have been injured, one critically so, following an explosion at Matla Power Station Unit 6 on Thursday afternoon.

"At approximately 5pm, a transformer explosion occurred at Matla Power Station in Mpumalanga, affecting Unit 6. As a precautionary measure, Unit 5 was taken offline to ensure the safety of all employees and contractors on-site," Eskom said in a statement.

"Our first thoughts are with those who have been injured and we are ensuring they get the medical attention they need. All emergency protocols have been activated," added Eskom Group Executive for Generation, Bheki Nxumalo.

He said technical teams are on-site assessing the situation and will continue to do so throughout the evening and on Friday. "The suspension of loadshedding remains unchanged," he said.

Earlier this week, the utility giant confirmed a trip at the Midas substation, affecting electricity supply to Carletonville, Fochville and Potchefstroom.

"Eskom’s technical teams acted swiftly and have managed to restore essential load to the mines, enabling limited operations. However, efforts are still underway to complete repairs and fully restore electricity supply to all affected customers," the service provider said.

Meanwhile, Eskom said the suspension of loadshedding has surpassed the 250-day mark, resulting in year-on-year diesel savings of R16.99 billion.

Eskom's Daphne Mokwena said the investment in the Generation Recovery Plan continues to yield consistent results, with loadshedding suspended for 254 consecutive days since March 26, 2024.

"This achievement reflects the on-going success of comprehensive structural improvements within the coal-fired fleet, reinforcing Eskom’s commitment to providing a reliable energy supply, enabling economic growth, and promoting long-term sustainability," she said.

seanne.rall@iol.co.za

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