Kriel Power Station Unit Catches Fire but No Loadshedding Expected, SA Worried

• Kriel Power Station's Unit 6 recently caught fire on 3 November 2024 after an oil pipe broke, causing an oil spill
• The incident, Eskom asserted, will not result in loadshedding or disruption to the power supply
• South Africans believed that the fire may have been an act of sabotage and weighed in on the incident

With nine years of experience, Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist, provided insights into infrastructure challenges in South Africa at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

MPUMALANGA — The Kriel Power Station in Mpumalanga reportedly caught fire after an oil spill. Eskom assured the nation that this situation would not lead to any loadshedding.

Oil spill causes Kriel fire

Eskom's Unit 6 caught fire after an oil pipe broke, causing an oil spill on the turbines, which resulted in a fire on 3 November. The station responded to the incident and swiftly contained the fire. Eskom also said there was enough generational capacity to prevent a case of loadshedding because of the fire.

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South Africans have questions

Netizens on Facebook suspected that the fire may have resulted from sabotage.

Rowan Torr said:

"Tell us the truth. What is causing these incidents?"

Nhlakanipho Makhubo said:

"This is the second time Kriel has caught fire in a period of three years."

Francois Van Der Merwe joked:

"Where are the days when a bit of rain resulted in weeks of loadshedding? I miss that."

Basie B Muvhango said:

"They have started with their sabotage tactics."

Muziwakawupheli Ngwendo said:

"Job opportunities are now created."

Cyril Ramaphosa deploys SANDF

In a related article, Briefly News reported that President Cyril Ramaphosa deployed the South African National Defence Force to power stations across the country in May.

The deployment was meant to protect the power stations from criminal activities, and it would cost millions. South Africa was furious that the second deployment, which happened in 2022 when criminals targeted power stations, would cost R203 million.

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Some accused him of trying to use the deployment as a campaigning tool for the 2024 general elections, which happened in the same month.

Source: Briefly News