Eskom has announced the successful integration of Unit 6 at Kusile Power Station into the national grid, contributing an additional 800 megawatts of capacity.
Eskom adds 800MW to national grid
The announcement was made on Sunday, 23 March 2025, with the utility stating the unit was synchronised at 16:45.
This development forms part of Eskom’s broader strategy to add 2,500MW of new capacity by March 2025.
According to Eskom’s statement, Kusile Power Station—now operational with all six units—will contribute 4,800MW to the grid once fully functional.
Eskom leadership described the milestone as a demonstration of resilience and commitment amid challenging conditions.
Group Executive for Generation, Bheki Nxumalo, said the completion of Unit 6 marks “a critical point returning megawatts to the grid,” while Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane said it was evidence of “continued progress in stabilising and strengthening South Africa’s electricity supply.”
The utility indicated that the unit will undergo a testing and optimisation period over the next six months before reaching commercial operation.
Once finalised, the 800MW capacity will officially be counted toward Eskom’s generation fleet.
Despite the positive outlook in Eskom’s communication, public sentiment has been shaped by recent power interruptions.
South Africans have experienced at least four bouts of loadshedding in recent weeks, including Stage 3 implemented on 7 March following a loss of 2,700MW in under 24 hours.
Although Eskom reported 325 days of loadshedding suspension between April 2024 and February 2025, these gains have been tempered by persistent operational challenges.
Kusile’s troubled history: Can Eskom keep this power station at peak?
Kusile Power Station has faced a series of operational setbacks since its inception.
Positioned as one of the country’s largest infrastructure projects, the coal-fired station has periodically struggled with reliability and maintenance issues.
Recent developments at the site provide context to the cautious reception of Eskom’s latest announcement.
Unit 3 was brought back online in February 2025 following a shutdown in December 2024 for maintenance and repairs to its exhaust system.
Unit 1 returned earlier than expected in October 2023 after a lengthy outage related to environmental compliance adjustments.
During that period, Eskom was granted temporary exemption from sulphur dioxide pollution controls to fast-track the return of several units.
Coal quality and supply issues have also hindered operations. Earlier in March 2025, two Kusile units experienced failures due to coal transport disruptions caused by adverse weather.
These incidents contributed to Eskom drawing on emergency reserves and prompted a return to scheduled loadshedding.
Kusile is notable for being the first power station in South Africa to install Wet Flue Gas Desulphurisation (WFGD) technology. While this aligns with global air quality standards, it also adds complexity to its operation and maintenance.
While Eskom maintains that the addition of Unit 6 is a sign of progress, the history of frequent breakdowns and the continued reliance on diesel-fueled open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) indicate the national grid remains sensitive to unplanned outages.
Eskom has committed to its Generation Operational Recovery Plan, which targets an energy availability factor of up to 70%.
However, past performance at Kusile leaves open questions about the station’s long-term stability and ability to perform consistently without contributing to future power cuts.
