State-owned power utility Eskom this week fired-up the first gas burner of the Medupi power station’s Unit 6, which was scheduled to be synchronised at the end of this year.

Eskom explained that the firing of the gas burner, which followed the filling of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank and the safety clearance of the distribution piping from the LPG tank to the LPG burner skids, supported the ignition of oil combustion for the first oil fire.

“Medupi is now well on its way towards the first oil fire,” Eskom said in a construction update.

Further, the joint oversight portfolio committees on public enterprises and energy had also visited the Medupi project to assess the progress that had been made, Eskom noted.

“Positive feedback was received from the committees and this demonstrated appreciation for the progress achieved at Medupi given the magnitude of the project,” the utility said.