Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma will on Friday unveil the Hydrostatic Pressure Test for Unit 6 at the Medupi Power Station in Limpopo.
According to the Presidency, the unveiling signifies an important milestone in South Africa's electricity infrastructure build programme as it marks a step towards completing the first unit of the Medupi Power Station.
Medupi is seen as an important cornerstone of the infrastructure expansion programme announced by Zuma during his State of the Nation Address.
The test is meant to ensure that the boiler is fully functional and ready to start generating electricity for South Africa's national grid.
Medupi is due to deliver first power to the grid at the end of 2013.
The Hydrostatic Pressure Test is the most common statutory requirement in which newly manufactured equipment and pressure vessels such as pipelines and boilers are tested to ensure the integrity and maintain safety standards. The hydrostatic pressure test is conducted in the presence of the client and an independent inspection authority.
The Medupi Power Station will be the fourth largest coal plant in the world and will be the biggest dry-cooled power station in the world.
The boiler and turbine contracts for Medupi are the largest contracts that Eskom has ever signed in its 87 year history. The planned operational life of the station is 50 years.
