Defects stalk Morupule B Power Plant

Power plant continues producing less than capacity Remedial work for all 4 units to be completed in 2024

Ten years later, the 600 MW Morupule B Power Station in Palapye continues to generate less power than its design capacity due to a perpetuation of defects.

This was revealed this week by Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Lefoko Moagi during his ministry’s committee of supply presentation for the 2022/ 23 budget.

The 600 megawatt coal fired Morupule B plant, which was commissioned in 2012 and built by China National Electric Equipment Corporation ( CNEEC) at a cost of P11.5 billion, has often broken down, leading to a reliance on diesel generators and imports from South Africa. The first Morupule B units were commissioned in 2012 but unit one was taken off- stream on January 15th 2013 after developing cracks in its primary and secondary air ducts. At some point, government was said to be planning to sell the plant.

Minister Moagi told Parliament this week that remedial works on the plant are on- going and currently, this power plant is generating 380MW from three of its four units, being unit 1 ( 150MW), units 2 ( 80MW) and 3 ( 150MW). He stated that Boiler heat exchangers are the major components that require replacement on all the four units with a new design as these pieces of equipment have exhibited perennial failures since the first commissioning of the plant. Moagi revealed that the remedial works on Unit 4 which commenced in June 2019 were delayed due to the Covid- 19 Global Pandemic which prevented service providers based in China from mobilizing and providing the required services at site.

“However, the Unit is now undergoing recommissioning of the boiler and turbine where major remedial works were undertaken. Remedial works on all the four units are expected to be completed by end of 2024 after which the plant will be generating at its design capacity of 600MW on firm basis. In the meantime, the diesel based power generators at Matshelagabedi and Orapa power peaking plants continue to be deployed in cases of power supply shortfalls experienced intermittently,” said Moagi.

According to the Minister in 2020, Government approved the Integrated Energy Resource Plan ( IRP) to guide Botswana’s power generation build programme over the next 20 years.

As part of the implementation of the IRP Road Map for the programme, Moagi indicated that Government has already embarked on development of a 300MW Coal Fired Power Station ( greenfield), 200MW Concentrated Solar Thermal Power Station ( CSP), 100MW solar photovoltaic ( PV) together with 12 solar PV grid- tied power plants with a total net generation capacity of 35MW around the country.

He pointed out that most of the projects are renewable and green technologies and the objective of the programme is to increase contribution of renewable energy technologies to local power generation capacity for the country.

“This will help reduce the international pressure arising from the need for addressing climate change matters such as reducing and mitigating the country’s carbon foot print. This follows the commitment made at the Conference of Parties ( COP26) on Climate Change. Notable progress on the implementation of Green Energy Technology initiatives is being attained,” he said.

The Minister told Parliament that under development Budget for the Ministry, the Rural Electrification and Network extension programme has been allocated the third largest share of the Development Budget at P44 100 000 or five per cent. He said the proposal is for works earmarked for 79 villages under this programme being connection of 29 new villages and 50 network extensions.

The Power Generation and Distribution programme takes the fourth largest share of P36 060 000 or about four percent, adding that the provision is towards continuation of the Backbone Power Transmission projects of Mochudi, Tlokweng and Ramotswa, as well as the Provision of Services for Power Supply Build Programme, said the minister.