Mpumalanga: President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday visit Eskom's Kusile Power Station in Nkangala District Municipality, Mpumalanga. Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, as well as Eskom management, will accompany the President during the visit.

According to South African Government News Agency, this visit allows the President to witness progress made in restoring the nation's energy security. The President will be provided with a comprehensive operational briefing from Eskom's leadership and technical teams. The briefing will highlight the tangible advancements towards enhanced generation capacity, as stated by the Presidency.

In September last year, the power station's unit 6 reached commercial operation, adding some 800MW to the grid and strengthening energy security. The President's visit will affirm the dedication shown by the engineers, technicians, and workers at Kusile Power Station who were instrumental in the Eskom generation recovery efforts. The President will interact with all Eskom Power Station General Managers at the event.

The commercial operation of Kusile Unit 6 marked the end of the power utility's Build Programme, which included the Medupi Power Station. At the time, the Department of Electricity and Energy hailed the commercialisation, describing it as a testament to overcoming intricate challenges within one of South Africa's most ambitious construction projects.

With the combined output of Kusile and Medupi Power Stations now reaching 9,600MW, South Africa is significantly enhancing its baseload electricity supply and reinforcing its position as a leader in energy generation capacity across the continent. This achievement demonstrates the government's commitment to energy security, crucial for economic recovery, development, job creation, and alleviation of poverty and inequality.

Eskom Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane noted that both Medupi and Kusile continue to play a pivotal role in South Africa's energy security. Medupi and Kusile are designed for an operational lifespan of approximately 50 years. As this milestone is celebrated, efforts to expand the renewable energy portfolio are also being accelerated to complement the baseload infrastructure, as part of a broader strategy to repower the grid and reduce overall emissions.