8.2-run-until-2025-3-c0ad00418d3a307c.pdf

This report provides a consolidated life-extension (life-ex) assessment of the Hendrina Power Station, detailing the technical condition and remnant life of its energy services, electrical plant, and common infrastructure. The study, conducted by Siemens and other specialists, evaluates whether the plant can operate until 2025, identifying critical failures in MV motors, generator age, and environmental compliance issues regarding water and waste management.

• The ten generators at Hendrina Power Station have exceeded their original design life of 30 years, 200,000 equivalent operating hours (EOH), and 3,000 starts. Because the specific design of the generator exciter is no longer manufactured and modern exciters use alternating current instead of continuous current, a major failure could result in an impossible repair due to a lack of spare parts.
• Medium Voltage (MV) motors across the station exhibit serious recurrent problems. Specifically, electrical feed pump motors on all units (especially units 6-10) face significant issues, and ID fan motors on units 6-10 overheat, reaching 155°C when ambient temperatures are high due to air leakage rates of 16-19% (against an acceptable 6-8%).
• The station's Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) system, specifically the ABB UNITROL D, is expected to reach its end of life in 3-5 years. The system lacks redundancy, meaning electronic card failures lead to unit trips and load losses, which violates the Eskom Generator Exciter System Standard ESKASAAW2 requiring dual-automatic excitation for units over 220 MVA.
• The power station cannot operate at full capacity until 2025 without major interventions due to poor water chemistry. A desalination plant is required to reduce cooling water concentration and prevent the need for frequent condenser re-tubing.
• Several infrastructure elements pose environmental and compliance risks. The 7-Year dam is an environmental concern due to contaminated water seepage into groundwater, and the maturation pond must be lined to comply with The National Water Act and the Water Use License. Additionally, one of the two Raw Water Dams is leaking and is operated below the leak to minimize loss.
• The smoke stacks, in operation for over 40 years, show severe degradation. Zone 1 (the top 5 to 6 meters) is the most damaged, exhibiting severe cracking between bricks, mortar loss, and corrosion-induced spalls.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). 8.2-run-until-2025-3-c0ad00418d3a307c.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/8.2-Run-Until-2025-3.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. 8.2-run-until-2025-3-c0ad00418d3a307c.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/8.2-Run-Until-2025-3.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=8.2-run-until-2025-3-c0ad00418d3a307c.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/8.2-Run-Until-2025-3.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsnd82rununtil20253c0ad00418d3a307cpdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{8.2-run-until-2025-3-c0ad00418d3a307c.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/8.2-Run-Until-2025-3.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }