File photo of the Grootvlie Power Station
Eskom spokeswoman Daphne Mokoena said Saturday that a fire at Grotvlei Power Station in Eskom has put Unit 2 out of action for the time being, but the damage is not extensive.
Grootvlei is one of the oldest power stations in Eskom and has only three units. Prior to the fire, Unit 2 was the only one of the three operating units. It had a capacity of 190 megawatts, but it was operating below this.
Mokoena said one of the other units that had been out of service for maintenance was back in service on Saturday.
It said initial indications were that an oil spill ignited in the boiler room, which damaged the cables. The fire broke out in the early morning hours and was put out.
NUM Highveld Regional Secretary Thabelo Malikoto confirmed the fire but said information the union had received indicated that excess coal dust in the boiler room had ignited.
Eskom has not revised its load shedding forecast for the weekend, which remains in Phase 4, as Phase 2 begins at 5am on Sunday.
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