This was due to an error in geotechnical engineering core drilling which did not identify that the proposed local coal mine was under solid bedrock.

The 3,000–5,000 cubic metres per hour (110,000–180,000 cu ft/h) pilot plant was commissioned in January 2007 and the first electricity was generated from the underground coal gasification gas on 31 May 2007.

[3][4][5] On 1 November 2014, the plant was running under normal load when a visible crack was reported on Silo 20 by a member of the operating staff at approximately 12:30.

An 8 Mtpa rail link branch from Palmfort was commissioned and, by 1996, was sufficient for the power plant owing to the delayed construction schedule.

From 2003 Eskom implemented a policy of procuring coal from new emerging sources which resulted in delivery by road, since the location of the mines precluded their use of the Palmfort line, despite the fact that it was sufficient for Majuba's needs.