Mpumalanga – A transformer explosion at Eskom’s Matla Power Station on Thursday afternoon has left nine employees injured, one critically, casting a shadow over the utility’s recent claims of improved reliability.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 5pm, affected Unit 6 of the power station, prompting the precautionary shutdown of Unit 5 to ensure the safety of all personnel on site.
Eskom confirmed the explosion in a statement, highlighting the immediate response: “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.”
The statement underscored the company's concern for its injured employees: "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.
Nxumalo further elaborated on the ongoing assessment and the lack of immediate impact on loadshedding: “Our technical teams are on-site assessing the situation and will continue to do so throughout the evening and into tomorrow. The suspension of load shedding remains unchanged. Eskom will issue regular update reports.”
This assurance, however, comes against a backdrop of recent incidents at Eskom facilities.
This incident marks the second major event at a Mpumalanga power station in recent weeks. On 3 November, Unit 6 at Kriel Power Station experienced a trip following a hydraulic oil leak that ignited a fire. Eskom's preliminary investigation pointed to a broken oil pipe as the cause of the incident. Fortunately, no injuries were reported at Kriel.
“Eskom can confirm no personnel were injured, and all other units at the power station remain fully operational. The standard investigation procedure is now underway to assess the extent of the damage, as well as the time required for repairs and restoration. Eskom will make a further announcement when the results of this investigation are finalised,” the utility stated at the time. However, no further updates have been provided on the Kriel incident.
Despite these incidents, Eskom maintains that its generating capacity remains unaffected. The utility attributes this resilience to the ongoing Generation Recovery Plan.
“The ongoing, incremental results of the Generation Recovery Plan have continually added more of a ‘buffer’ to the system to manage incidents such as this. The system has sufficient reserves,” Eskom stated.
This claim is further supported by the recent announcement of a 254-day suspension of loadshedding.
Earlier this week, Eskom 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,” Eskom reported.
The utility also highlighted the significant financial benefits of the sustained loadshedding suspension.
Eskom’s Daphne Mokwena emphasized the positive financial impact of the extended period without loadshedding: “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.”
The utility reported year-on-year diesel savings of R16.99 billion as a direct result of the 254 consecutive days without loadshedding since 26 March 2024.
However, the Matla Power Station explosion raises questions about the long-term effectiveness and robustness of the Generation Recovery Plan. While the plan has demonstrably achieved significant short-term gains, the frequency of recent incidents at Eskom facilities suggests the need for a more comprehensive and proactive approach to maintenance and safety protocols.
