Gauteng Health warns of steam supply issues at several facilities
The Gauteng Health Department says it is working tirelessly to restore steam supply at several of its facilities, including Steve Biko Academic Hospital.
Spokesperson Motalatale Modiba says the issue is being caused by breakdowns in the boilers.
“Due to inadequate steam supply at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, owing to a breakdown of the steam generating boilers, some of the steam-dependent services at the hospital and nearby facilities are impacted.”
Modiba says one of their boilers collapsed earlier this week, while the other has gone for repairs.
“Steve Biko has three boilers which are used interchangeably to supply it and the surrounding institutions with steam. Two of the boilers are coal powered while the third one is a dual or hybrid gas/light fuel/diesel powered.
“One boiler has been undergoing statutory preparation and is expected to be back on line during May 2023. The second boiler collapsed on 17 April and is now off-line pending repair. The department expecting the third boiler to be on line within the next couple of days so that the hospital can have a functional boiler.”
Modiba says several healthcare facilities are affected as they are all connected to the same system.
“The Steve Biko Academic Hospital's boiler infrastructure supplies steam power to a number of health facilities within the hospital complex - Tshwane District Hospital, Pretoria Oral and Dental Hospital, Tshwane Rehabilitation Hospital, Pretoria Forensic Pathology Mortuary, Tshwane Health District's Crisis Centre, Pretoria Hospital School, and SG Lourens Nursing Campus”.
“The steam is used within the operational environment for various purposes such as the central air-conditioning (cooling) and air heaters, cooking, hot water, autoclaving, refrigeration and freezers amongst other services.”
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