Mpumalanga's Kendal Power Station ‘falling into chaos’ - Investigative journalist
Eskom’s Kendal Power station has declined significantly since 2018.
Kendal coal-fired power station in Ogies, Mpumalanga. Picture: GCIS
John Maytham speaks with Kyle Cowan, Investigative journalist
Listen below.
Kendal Power Station was once a top-performing coal plant.
It is located 40 km west of Witbank in Mpumalanga.
Since 2018 reliability has sharply declined, and working conditions have deteriorated.
Contractors face hazardous working conditions, from persistent leaks in electrical rooms to falling machinery and collapsing conveyors.
According to an anonymous whistleblower, one contractor died while working on Unit 5, and another sustained severe burns from the hot ash.
“Eskom has refused to confirm or deny that a fatality occurred there.”
- Kyle Cowan, Investigative journalist
The ash from the plant is so severe it can bury vehicles within hours.
This whistleblower reportedly raised the alarm about procurement irregularities at this plant to the SIU in December and shared their report with News24.
They say these irregularities have caused the dangerous working conditions.
RELATED: Loadshedding: More to come? Energy analyst says much uncertainty ahead
“Chaos is the word used to describe the situation most often.”
- Kyle Cowan, Investigative journalist
Cowan says this station is essential to hold back loadshedding.
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.