Eskom has awarded a R2.9-billion contract to a consortium of SA companies for the construction of the main civil works at its Medupi Power Station in Limpopo, the utility said on Friday.

A consortium made up of Murray and Roberts; Grinaker-LTA Civil Engineering and Concor was awarded the contract.

"Medupi will be the biggest dry-cooled power station in the world with a capacity of 4800 megawatts," said Brian Dames, Eskom's Chief Officer for Generation.

The first unit is scheduled for completion in 2012 and the entire station is scheduled to be completed by 2015.

Dames said Medupi was one of Eskom's key installations in the New Build programme geared towards closing the current supply-demand gab.

The contract covered the construction of roads, drains, foundations, column supports, floor slabs, basements and all civil engineering work, Dames said.

"Also included are the utility spine and connectors beneath an auxiliary bay, the boiler house and turbine hall," he said.

Work on the site is expected to commence soon.

Sapa