A second unit at the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme, Unit 2, came into commercial operation last week, becoming the second generator after the power plant’s Unit 4 to have completed all the prerequisite quality assurance tests.

Ingula’s Unit 4 was the first of the pumped storage scheme’s four units to come into commercial operation on 10 June 2016 – six months ahead of schedule.

The two units have added 333 MW each to the national grid and their commercial operation marks a key milestone towards the full commercial operation of the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme ahead of the scheduled deadline of mid-2017.

Ingula’s two remaining units (Units 1 and 3) have been synchronised to the national grid and are on track for commercial operation within the first half of 2017. Once completed, all four units of the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme will produce a total of 1 332 MW.

Repairs on Ingula’s Unit 3 are progressing well, and the unit is expected to come into commercial operation in January 2017 as scheduled.

Ingula will be Africa’s newest and largest pumped storage scheme, and the 14th largest in the world, upon completion.

Eskom’s Group Chief Executive Brian Molefe said: “The commercial operation of Unit 2 will add an extra 333 MW into the national, and this will enable us to ensure security of power supply to South African homes and businesses. Besides being a catalyst for economic growth, a stable power supply will also enable Eskom, together with municipalities, to rollout electrification programmes to make life easier for millions of households who currently rely on other fuel sources for domestic cooking and heating.”