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Orlando Power Station
Soweto, Gauteng
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Click to view map Coordinates: | On Wednesday 25 June 2014 the Orlando Power Station collapsed due to excessive theft of structural steel. Four people were killed and six others injured. The building had been standing empty awaiting funds to incorporate it into a new R1 billion business development which was planned in 2006. ___________________________________ In 1938 the electricity reticulation for Orlando Township had been completed, but tenders then being received for the equipment of the new power station showed that large scale rearmament in Europe had affected the World's metal markets to such a degree that borrowing sanctioned by the then Provincial Administrator were inadequate, necessitating the raising of an additional £578 000 (R1 156 000) bringing the total estimated cost of the project to £2 005 050 (R4 010 100). Construction of the Orlando Power Station was well on the way by the end of the year. However, demand was again outstripping supply. This factor, as well as lengthy delivery periods on plant from overseas, necessitated the raising of a further £443 000 (R886 000) so as to ensure the ordering, in ample time, of the first 30,000 kW extension. Less than five months later the Second World War broke out. Parts of No 1 turbo-alternator were lost in the sinking of the Clan Stuart in the English Channel, so some of the equipment was taken from No 2 set. The war resulted in further shipping delays. Manufacture of the second set was completed by the middle of 1941, but as the entire shipment of machine parts was lost at sea it could not be commissioned for another two years. It then was designated No 1 set. By 1943 most of the parts for No 3 set had been received on site, but a major item lost as a result of enemy action was the alternator rotor. Its replacement was so delayed that the completed unit could not be put into operation until 1946. During WWII some 300 members of the Department's staff were with the Forces, while almost half the workshop's remaining manpower were busy with wartime duties. When peace was restored in 1945 it soon was apparent that the rate of increase in the demand for electricity would surpass pre-war levels engaged permanently on war work. and so extensions to the Orlando Power Station were approved, which included two more 30 000 kW turbo-alternators and four additional boilers. By early 1947, three generating sets were installed and contracts had been placed for a further two, together with all the necessary ancillary equipment. During the next five years the capacity of Orlando was expanded steadily and by July, 1952, five 30 MW turbo-alternators and 10 boilers had been erected and installed. Two years later No 6 and No 7 turbo-alternators were in operation and when the last three sets were commissioned in 1955 the total capacity of the Power Station was 300 MW. A feature of operations at Orlando was the use of high temperatures and pressures. (Extracted and edited from Shorten 1970: 609-611) Books that reference Orlando Power Station
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