EGENCO has put Nkula B Unit 6, a 20MW machine, back on the national grid after more than three months out of service. Spokesperson Moses Gwaza told Zodiak Online on Friday that the unit came back online on Thursday 12 November.
EGENCO has also recovered 3.7MW at Nkula A power station and expects to recover another 3.7MW there by the end of November.
Key facts
- Nkula B Unit 6 (20MW) back on the grid on 12 November, after breaking down on 7 August
- Nkula A: 3.7MW recovered after new shaft seals were fitted
- Another 3.7MW at Nkula A expected by the end of November, 7.4MW in total
- The unit came back about two weeks after the government’s end of October date
What was fixed
The unit broke down because of worn-out thrust bearing pads and faults in the turbine assembly. In its 12 November update, EGENCO said the damaged generator bearing parts, including the shaft, had been installed, a faulty transformer swapped for a working spare, and the major mechanical and electrical work completed, with final tests under way. It reconnected the unit the same day.
Nkula A is recovering too
Gwaza said newly bought spare parts have replaced some of the worn-out shaft seals at Nkula A, bringing back 3.7MW. The remaining seals are being replaced, and EGENCO is aiming to recover another 3.7MW by the end of November, 7.4MW in all. In its August update, EGENCO said Nkula A was generating 24MW of its installed 35.1MW because of the worn seals.
How long it took
In August, EGENCO said the unit would return in the first week of October. On 3 October, the Malawi Government said repairs had started after the new shaft arrived and would be finished by the end of October.
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