The collapsed Silo 20
The construction of a permanent coal-handling solution for State-owned Eskom’s Majuba power station has been completed, including the rebuilding of Silo 20, the reinforcement of silos 10 and 30, as well as the implementation of a lift shaft, two piers and a coal conveyor system.
“We commend the various teams for diligently working around the clock to ensure that work on the damaged silo was completed seamlessly and within the set timeframes,” Eskom group capital executive Abram Masango said.
In 2014, the wall of Silo 20 collapsed, which meant that coal could not be supplied to any of the station’s three silos.
Within five days, mobile feeders were installed on the boiler incline at silos 10 and 30, to enable the supply of coal to the power plant from the silos. At least four of the six boiler incline conveyors were then able to supply coal to the generating units.
In March 2015 a conveyor system was built to bypass the coal silos and provided a reliable coal supply to all six units.
Construction work for the permanent coal-handling solution started at the beginning of February 2016 and was concluded by December 2017.