Matimba Power Station

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Employees: Approximately 750

Technical details:

* Six 665MW units
* Installed capacity: 3 990MW
* 2001 capacity: 3 690MW
* Design efficiency at rated turbine MCR (%): 35.60%
* Ramp rate: 28.57% per hour
* Average availability over last 3 years: 93.67%
* Average production over last 3 years: 23 789GWh

History: Construction at Matimba started in 1981. It was located at Ellisras due to concerns about the air pollution levels around Witbank where most of Eskom's power stations are located and because of the large coal deposits in that area. Matimba's design is suitable for less water usage and therefor it is well located in Ellisras where water is scarce.

General: Matimba is the largest direct dry cooling power station in the world, an innovation necessitated by the severe shortage of water in the area where it is situated. The station obtains its coal from the adjacent Grootegeluk Colliery which has sufficient coal reserves to guarantee Matimba a minimum lifespan of 35 years at 3 800 tons of coal per hour. The annual send-out power from Matimba amounts to approximately 24 000GWh.

Matimba is the holder of the world record of 80 days for six units on load.