Hospitals and clinics across the Eastern Cape region in South Africa have been hit by a potential medical oxygen crisis after a power supply failure shut down the Port Elizabeth air separation unit (ASU), which supplies essential gases to the regional healthcare industry.
ASU owner and operator Afrox has engaged in ‘urgent talks’ with the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM), the organisation responsible for power supplies to the Coega Development Zone (CDZ) where the ASU is located.
Power supply issues have plagued the plant since the explosion of the Recruitment substation on 11th March, leading the NMBM to provide an alternative power supply to Afrox and other affected CDZ tenants.
Just two weeks later a faulty joint on the supply cable caused a power interruption and – despite the completion of repairs on 28th May – Afrox could not successfully start the plant due to an undervoltage volt.
... to continue reading you must be subscribed
