Tutuka Power Station in Mpumalanga, South Africa, is a coal-fired power plant operated by Eskom. It is a twin sister to Duvha Power Station.

Tutuka Power Station
Map
Location of Tutuka Power Station
CountrySouth Africa
LocationMpumalanga
Coordinates26°46′43″S 29°21′7″E / 26.77861°S 29.35194°E / -26.77861; 29.35194
StatusOperational
Commission date1985[1]
OwnerEskom
Operator
Thermal power station
Primary fuelCoal
Power generation
Units operational6[1]
Nameplate capacity3,654 Megawatt[1]

History

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The first unit at Tutuka was commissioned in June 1985 and the last went online in June 1990.

Power generation

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The station has six 609MW units with a total installed capacity of 3,654MW with turbine Maximum Continuous Rating at 38.00%. Tutuka is an important link in the 765kV extra-high-voltage transmission system linking Mpumalanga with the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.[1]

Crime and corruption

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In 2020 the installation of a substandard submerged scraper chain at unit 5 of Tutuka was thwarted.[2] These items were the cause of many breakdowns at Tutuka. The investigation that followed uncovered widespread and costly corruption which exploited lax equipment ordering and warehousing.[2] In November 2021 two persons employed by the station and a supplier of goods and services were arrested. They were charged with theft, fraud and corruption in connection with the disappearance of spares.[3] It was further alleged that four persons operated an oil crime syndicate which had been stealing large amounts of fuel from the station, valued at hundreds of millions of rand.[4] Mid-December 2022, at the request of the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, and President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of Defence Thandi Modise deployed a small contingent of SANDF troops at the station (besides at Camden, Majuba and Grootvlei) to curb a growing threat of sabotage, theft, vandalism and corruption.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Tutuka Power Station". Eskom. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Phone call to Andre de Ruyter saved South Africa billions". Energy. Daily Investor. dailyinvestor.com. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Eskom staff arrested for spares fraud, while R100m in fuel is stolen monthly from power station". news24.com. fin24. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  4. ^ Baloyi, Thabo (6 November 2021). "Eskom: Two employees stole R100m worth of fuel oil PER MONTH". thesouthafrican.com. The South African. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  5. ^ Evans, Julia (4 January 2023). "A country 'ungovernable' — how Eskom plans to tackle the scourge of sabotage, fraud and corruption in 2023". Defend Truth. www.dailymaverick.co.za. Daily Maverick. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
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