Matimba Power Station

Matimba Power Station is a coal-fired power plant situated near Lephalale in the Limpopo province of South Africa. It is owned and operated by Eskom, the state-owned power utility, and is one of the largest dry-cooled power stations in the world. The plant has an installed capacity of about 3 990 MW generated across six units, making it a significant contributor to South Africa's baseload electricity supply. Matimba draws coal from the nearby Grootegeluk mine, reducing transport costs and supporting an integrated mine-to-power supply chain. Its dry-cooling technology was adopted to conserve water in the arid Waterberg region, distinguishing it from many other Eskom coal stations. The station sits close to the newer Medupi Power Station, forming a major power generation hub in Limpopo. Like other units in Eskom's ageing coal fleet, Matimba faces recurring maintenance and reliability challenges that affect the utility's generation performance. It remains central to discussions on coal-fired capacity, emissions and South Africa's energy transition. The plant was commissioned in stages during the 1980s and 1990s. Ongoing refurbishment work supports efforts to extend its operating life.