Smokedown Informal Settlement Eskom

Image via: @Eskom_SA / Twitter

Eskom invests R8 million towards Smokedown informal settlement

The 8.6 million electrification project started in 2017. Eskom will celebrate the electrification of 190 households in Smokedown on Friday.

Smokedown Informal Settlement Eskom

Image via: @Eskom_SA / Twitter

Eskom in Gauteng is partnering with Mogale City Municipality to mark and celebrate the electrification of 190 households in Smokedown informal settlement through a switch-on ceremony on Friday 2 October.

Image via: @Eskom_SA / Twitter

ESKOM PROVIDES SMOKEDOWN INFORMAL SETTLEMENT WITH ELECTRICITY

Senior Manager of the Asset Creation Department for the Gauteng Operating Unit Sylvester Barei said the R8.6 million electrification project investment started in 2017 where the first phase saw 572 houses being electrified in 2018/2019. The 190 connections of the last phase are being energised in September 2020 and the total number of electrification connections planned for this financial year is 5 487. 

“Electrification of informal settlements in Gauteng is a strategic drive to promote the quality of life in disadvantaged areas and to stimulate economic activities while advancing universal access to electricity” said Barei. 

Image via: @Eskom_SA / Twitter

“This is another way of optimising and safeguarding infrastructure through a legalised process. Customers will safely access electricity and benefit from the Free Basic Electricity made available by Mogale City. The customers will, however, have a responsibility to pay for their services to ensure that they are sustained,” it said in a statement on Friday. 

Eskom urges the community of Smokedown to become efficient in their consumption of electricity and to purchase their electricity tokens only from Eskom’s authorised outlets and vendors. It is of great importance for all communities to look after their electricity infrastructure so as to ensure continuity of supply for everyone. 

Image via: @Eskom_SA / Twitter

ARRIVAL OF REPLACEMENT GENERATOR 

Not only is Eskom celebrating the electrification of Smokedown informal settlement, but it’s also celebrating the arrival of the first Koeberg replacement generator. Eskom received the first of six 380 ton replacement steam generators that are promised to extend Koeberg nuclear power station’s operational life by 20 years.

Eskom said that the first three steam generators will replace the current infrastructure that has been in operation at Koeberg since the first unit was connected to the national grid in 1984. The installation of the generator into Unit 1 will take place between February and June 2021. 

“The steam generator replacement is a key part of the larger programme to extend Koeberg’s operating life, which was budgeted to cost an estimated R20 billion, and will be the best investment into sustainable and less carbon-intensive electricity generation infrastructure that Eskom can buy,” it said. 

“Steam generator replacement is the most intensive and most expensive project that a nuclear power station can undertake, and several stations internationally have already done so successfully,” it added.