Success Story: Mettler-Toledo Thornton Multiparameter Measurement Helps to Power South Africa

Eskom, the primary electric company South Africa has been a technological leader in energy production, from extensive development of synthetic fuels to innovative power plant configurations and operating techniques. Eskom is the primary electric company in South Africa with the responsibility to provide reliable, low-cost power throughout the country and beyond. It is one of the largest electric utilities in the world with over 35,000 MW of generating capacity. Eskom's power plant chemistry innovations are particularly noteworthy. South Africa has an abundance of coal in its northeast region, above Johannesburg although it is of a low grade. As a result, large 6-unit power stations are built next to the mines in that area to minimize coal transportation costs. However, water is in short supply in that region. To minimize water consumption, some of the plants are designed with dry cooling systems. There is no evaporation in the cooling towers which operate more like automobile radiators than conventional towers.