Eskom's breakdown-prone Hendrina plant is getting some upgrades – like this car wash

[rvZA]

Breakdowns at Eskom's 50-year-old Hendrina power station have played a part in South Africa's recent bout of load shedding. Now, the plant is seeking car wash services for the next three years.

The first unit of Hendrina power station in Mpumalanga was completed in 1970, making it one of the oldest operational plants in South Africa. But in a seemingly never-ending quest to maintain and refurbish old power infrastructure – cited as one of the key components of the country's power crisis – Hendrina stands as an example of Eskom's conundrum.

The power station has suffered several breakdowns over the past year, with unexpected losses and emergency repairs in 2022, heightening Eskom's load shedding schedule. At the beginning of August, Eskom confirmed that the unplanned outage of two units at Hendrina had "exacerbated the capacity constraints".

By Wednesday, Eskom, in a statement warning of the prospect of load shedding at short notice, revealed that there were delays in bringing Hendrina back to full power.

Hendrina's latest problems coincide with the issuing of at least seven tenders in August, following three advertised in July, for services at the embattled Mpumalanga power plant.

The most recent tenders, advertised through government's E-Tender Portal on Wednesday with September deadlines, include transport services for Eskom employees and school children. Tenders for cleaning of overland conveyors, collection of ferrous material, disposal of used oil, and provision of vacuum and high pressure on units at Hendrina Power Station have all been advertised over the past month.

The latest tender advertisement, with a deadline of 5 September, is for the provision of car wash services at Hendrina power station for a period of 36 months.

"The service includes Eskom pool vehicles and scheme vehicles. The type of vehicles vary from sedans to fire trucks, and the services to be rendered also cover a wide scope from normal wash to full valet as detailed on the scope of works," notes the Term Service Contract (TSC3) supplied by Eskom.

Eskom's breakdown-prone Hendrina plant is getting some upgrades – like this car wash | News24

Eskom's getting services for its ageing and breakdown-prone Hendrina power station, including a car wash.

www.businessinsider.co.za

 

[rvZA]

So, this f**cking Eskom wants to increase tariffs to build car washes on the plants... what the f**k dude! How is this even entertained by Nersa and the courts?

 

[mojoman]

So, this f**cking Eskom wants to increase tariffs to build car washes on the plants... what the f**k dude! How is this even entertained by Nersa and the courts?

Car washes...chicken sellers and hairdressers...
The employment avenues with a future here...

 

[Creag]

How is this even entertained by Nersa and the courts?

Bribes facilitate and smooth over anything.

 

[Nithan15]

So, this f**cking Eskom wants to increase tariffs to build car washes on the plants... what the f**k dude! How is this even entertained by Nersa and the courts?

You cant deliver electricity in a dirty car

 

[R13...]

Don't see an issue here if the services are fairly priced. Cars have to be washed.

 

["D"]

Don't see an issue here if the services are fairly priced. Cars have to be washed.

Washing cars by hand saves electricity.

Electricity that they could sell.

They should be leading by example.

 

[TelkomUseless]

People get subsidise food, nice clean car washes (free?) from Eskom. They make so much ZAR profit they can afford it...

Who wouldn't want to "work" there?

 

[ToxicBunny]

Don't see an issue here if the services are fairly priced. Cars have to be washed.

There isn't an issue if the services are fairly priced.

And in an environment like Hendrina, its imperative that cars and trucks etc get washed... not doing so would actually significantly increase ongoing maintenance costs for the vehicles. So long as said car wash is purely for Eskom owned vehicles, then there is no issue with it at all in my opinion.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

surprised they so open about it, and they dont make any secret of where they spend their Money on,

maybe the site needs a flower garden and some Gardeners as well?

sure theres a canteen there already.

 

[TelkomUseless]

There isn't an issue if the services are fairly priced.

And in an environment like Hendrina, its imperative that cars and trucks etc get washed... not doing so would actually significantly increase ongoing maintenance costs for the vehicles. So long as said car wash is purely for Eskom owned vehicles, then there is no issue with it at all in my opinion.

You are very funny TB!. Rest assure the car wash will be ONLY for Eskom people vehicles...

 

[ToxicBunny]

You are very funny TB!. Rest assure the car wash will be ONLY for Eskom people vehicles...

Ahhh well, then in that case its all a big problem....

 

[Mekon]

 

[HunterNW]

MY FATHER WAS CALLED A KITCHEN BOY AND MY MOTHER WAS CALLED A GARDEN GIRL, THAT IS WHY WE NEED ESKOM TO PAY FOR OUR CAR WASHES YOU RACIST.

At least his parents did something useful.