17 July 2013
South Africans were told last week they would have to wait a little longer for a much-needed power plant that had been due to come online later this year.
The 4800-MW Medupi coal-fired power station won’t deliver its first power to the grid until the end of 2014, spelling further problems for the power-hungry nation, according to France24.com.
The country has endured blackouts due to lack of power generating capacity and heavy industries have seen production disrupted.
The Medupi power station under construction (Credit: Eskom)
The Medupi coal-fired power station, once completed, could increase the country’s electricity output by 10%.
State-owned utility Eskom blames labour disputes for the delay.
In May Eskom said new "partnering agreement" is being negotiated between unions and contractors to replace the current Project Labour Agreement.
It said all of the approximately 17,000 workforce have been back on site since April 2013 following the previous strike.
US-headquartered Parsons Brinckerhoff is providing engineering and project management in the project which, it says, includes 38 separate large contracts.
