World's largest modernization project for power plant I&C in South Africa

The Kriel power plant has a “sixpack configuration” comprising six units and a capacity of 3.000 megawatts; it is one of the largest plants in South Africa. Complete replacement of the I&C systems will extend the service life of this plant, built nearly 30 years ago, by another 20 years. Work on the first unit has already commenced and will be completed after about 100 days. PG will require only 75 days for modernization of each of the other five units. Modernization of the first unit will be completed in early 2007.

This Siemens I&C technology is designed especially for power plant applications, that is, closed- and open-loop control of power plants and turbines on a common I&C platform. Siemens I&C enables the operator to flexibly and precisely tailor the operating mode of these units to its needs. Installation of SPPA-T3000 I&C technology improves the availability and cost-effectiveness of the overall power plant.

Key factors on which the decision on this contract hinged were the technical and economic advantages the Siemens solution offers, but also the confidence in the performance capability of Siemens.

“Safety and reliability are important to us. We were looking for a partner who can complete the project punctually and above all without safety or reliability problems,” said Frenchie Collet-Serret, Project Manager at Eskom in charge of modernizing the Kriel plant.

“Modernization has been our specialty for years and with SPPA-T3000 technology we can upgrade each power plant to the state of the art, thereby ensuring optimum operation in the long term,” added Karlheinz Springer, head of the I&C division at Siemens Power Generation. “In particular, comprehensive modernization of the 30-year-old BBC turbines with the latest Siemens technology will convincingly confirm this.”

SPPA-T3000 is a “leading” process control system that was conceived especially for power plant and power generation management applications. In the power plant, it covers the spectrum from boiler and turbine I&C to open- and closed-loop control of all power plant process functions. In addition, it is predestined for company-wide fleet management. As the first truly web-based system, it achieves seamless integration into the existing IT landscape of the power company and is capable of providing real-time information for the most diverse range of users. Its unique Embedded Component Services technology simplifies operator tasks and maintenance. Its lean system architecture sustainably reduces the power plant life cycle costs.

The Power Generation Group (PG) of Siemens AG is one of the premier companies in the international power generation sector. In fiscal 2005 (which ended September 30), Siemens PG posted sales amounting to approximately EUR8.1 billion and received new orders totaling EUR11 billion. Group profit amounted to EUR951 million. On September 30, 2005, PG had a work force of approximately 33,500 worldwide.

Siemens AG
Corporate Communications
Press Office Power Generation
Alfons Benzinger
Tel. 49 9131/18-7034
Fax: 49 9131/18-7039
mailto:alfons.benzinger@siemens.com
Reference Number: PG 200607.053 e