Transmission projects
765kV South of Hydra Progress
The 765kV project group’s activities are presently concentrated on the Hydra – Sterrekus (South of Hydra) scheme. The Gamma – Kappa Transmission line has been scheduled for completion towards the end of the year. Progress has been marred by adverse weather conditions. The Kappa – Sterrekus line construction is scheduled to start early in the new year. | |
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The Hydra 765kV substation was finally commissioned and the 2000MVA 765/400 kV transformer 31 was put on load in August 2013. This was the culmination of four years of construction work and a year of testing, preparation and commissioning work.
Electrical progress at Gamma substation is in the pre-commissioning phase with commissioning and energisation targeted for the end of 2013. Electrical installation and testing is ongoing at Kappa and Sterrekus substations. Energisation of the southern portion of the portfolio will introduce 2 000 MVA and 1 100km of 765kV transmission lines to the national grid with the strategic benefit of a strengthened feed to the Western Cape. The remaining 2000 MVA transformer will be energized in 2015/2016.
The newest addition to the project portfolio is phase 1 of the Foskor-Acornhoek transformation upgrade scheme. The projects have an ERA completion date of June 2017. Current activities include final design verification and long lead time equipment procurement.
Northern grid
The Kusile high-voltage yard and Duvha Minerva Loop-in lines were successfully commissioned on 29 September 2013.
The commissioning included the energisation of the high-voltage yard and the 400kV loop-in loop-out of the Duvha Minerva line. The HV yard is one of the most sophisticated; spanning 692m in length and includes 29 bays in total. No lost-time incidents were reported during the construction period for the HV yard electrical works, the line construction and commissioning activities.
The Borutho Substation Project is one of the key projects g in the Polokwane area to address the issues of reliable and uninterrupted supply of electricity. This project will form part of the Medupi transmission integration project and is required for Medupi units 2 and 1 integration.
The Burotho substation is situated 60km from the Mokopane town in the Limpopo Province. Once completed, the project will have the following features:
– 2 x 500MVA transformers
– 4 x 400kV feeders
– 5 x 132kV feeders
The local communities also benefit from this project as expenditure and resources are localized. The construction of the project started in January 13 and once completed, will play an integral role in eliminating the voltage collapse in some parts of Limpopo.
Central grid
Tshwane Strengthening – Verwoerdburg Substation and Apollo Pluto 6km loop-in and out line
The contract for the construction of the line was placed during September 2013 and the duration for completion is 9 months.
Substation: the main columns steel support and lighting mast have been erected. Construction of the access road T-Junction into the M57 road has been approved by Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport. Thirty percent of the substation work has been completed and within the baseline schedule.
Vaal Strengthening Scheme Phase 1
This project covers upgrades to eight substations within the Vaal South and West Rand regions. The substations form the backbone for power transportation from the Lethabo and Matla power stations to inner Gauteng networks. The key customer base includes metal industries, a large rail network, mines and municipalities.
Glockner substation: the 275kV feeder bay 7, installation of a panthograph, line isolators, circuit breakers, and current transformers still need to be completed. The 275kV feeder bays 1 and 2 installation of line isolators, circuit breakers, current transformers and line traps works have been moved to the end of next year due to delays in commissioning of transformer 1 at Bernina substation.
Bernina and Hera substation: No other work can be done on the 275kV yard until transformer 1 has been commissioned. The expected completion date is end Oct. 2013. All outages have been moved to 2014/5.
Cape grid
Greater East London Strengthening
Neptune Substation. The substation connects the 400kV line to Vuyani Substation. It will improve the network reliability, solve Distribution voltage regulation problems and inevitably solve capacity related problems in the former Transkei area.
All primary equipment has been installed and handed over to the Grid.
Stringing and cabling is complete.
400kV busbar installation and HVT equipment installation completed.
400kV Actom isolator installation complete.
400kV ABB breaker installation complete.
Cabling by Gebane Electrical Services complete.
Stringing by Gebane Electrical Services complete.
All civil works is complete.
Neptune-Vuyani 400kV line
The Vuyani-Neptune line which runs from Mthatha to East London forms part of the Greater East London Strengthening Scheme. It is one half of the Eros-Neptune 400kV Transmission Network that runs from KwaZulu-Natal to the Eastern Cape that will provide a ring feed when operating with the existing power network. This project is not only aimed at bolstering the capacity of the transmission network in the Eastern Cape, but will also benefit the surrounding rural areas.
Progress:
450/451 tower foundations have been cast.
430 towers have been erected – 95.3% of total towers.
147.205 km of phase and earth wire conductors have been regulated – 80% of total line length.
Tabor Witkop Spencer Network Strengthening
The Tabor-Witkop 400 kV line forms part of the Tabor Witkop Spencer Network Strengthening Scheme will benefit the area though electrification and planned industrial expansions.
Progress:
Tower erection and stringing of the conductor, earth wire and OPGW are in progress.
219 foundations complete
219 towers fully erected to date.
219 towers fully assembled to date.
96.6 km of conductor strung and regulated to date.
Installation of bird diverters and aerial warning spheres is complete.
Final quality inspections are ongoing
Defect rectification and rehabilitation by the contractor is ongoing (60%).
Port Elizabeth strengthening phase
Grassridge MTS consists of 2x 500 MVA 400/132kV transformers and had a peak loading of 755MW and 715MW in 2008 and 2009 respectively, with Chetty substation contributing to the 2009 peak with a load of 563MW. The remaining 152MW was fed from the Grassridge 132kV busbar to the Eskom Distribution load. Installing an additional 132kV line between Grassridge MTS and Dedisa MTS will transfer the spare capacity from Dedisa to Grassridge and will defer the installation of the 3rdtransformer at Grassridge MTS. Construction has not started as yet. Materials are being ordered
Sishen-Saldanha rail upgrade
All work is 100% complete
Kimberly strengthening project
The runs from Mercury Substation near Orkney in the North West via a new substation called Mookodi, then to Ferrum Substation in the Kathu area in the Northern Cape. The total length of the line is 428km. The growing and future expected loads in the Sishen area are such that it has become necessary to construct a 400kV line from Mercury to Ferrum to strengthen 132kV and 66kV systems in the area. The proposed Mercury -Ferrum line will be close to 428km thus requiring a line reactor at Ferrum with another reactor at Mookodi for the Mercury-Mookodi 400kV line.
Port Elizabeth strengthening phase
Grassridge MTS consists of 2x 500 MVA 400/132kV transformers and had a peak loading of 755MW and 715MW in 2008 and 2009 respectively, with Chetty substation contributing to the 2009 peak with a load of 563MW. The remaining 152MW was fed from the Grassridge 132kV busbar to the Eskom Distribution load. Installing an additional 132kV line between Grassridge MTS and Dedisa MTS will transfer the spare capacity from Dedisa to Grassridge and will defer the installation of the 3rdtransformer at Grassridge MTS. Construction has not started as yet. Materials are being ordered
Sishen-Saldanha rail upgrade
All work is 100% complete
Kimberly strengthening project
The runs from Mercury Substation near Orkney in the North West via a new substation called Mookodi, then to Ferrum Substation in the Kathu area in the Northern Cape. The total length of the line is 428km. The growing and future expected loads in the Sishen area are such that it has become necessary to construct a 400kV line from Mercury to Ferrum to strengthen 132kV and 66kV systems in the area. The proposed Mercury -Ferrum line will be close to 428km thus requiring a line reactor at Ferrum with another reactor at Mookodi for the Mercury-Mookodi 400kV line.
Greater East London strengthening
Vuyani Substation: 85% complete with pre-commissioning of the substation. 1 x 250MVA transformers and 1 x 100MVar reactor have been handed over to Eskom. By end October the second transformer will be handed over to Eskom as well.
Eros Vuyani Line: The line is split into sections A and B. Section A is 95% complete and section B is 64% complete. Section A – five towers still to be erected and stringing for towers 1-12 and associated minor works and rehabilitation from tower 1-20.
Section B – towers 211-268 are not complete due to demands from a local community for electrification before allowing the 400kV line to continue. All the relevant stakeholders are involved in resolving this issue as this is causing major delays in the project.
Ingula scheme integration
Ingula high-voltage yard: The HV Yard is planned to be energized during December 2013 and thereafter the XLPE cable will be installed and energized during next year. Presently cabling work is in progress on gen transformer bays 1 and 2.
Ingula-Venus 94km line: Ninety one kilometres of conductor have been strung. There is a planned outage for end of October 2013 to connect and commission the loop-out line to the Ingula Venus Line. Work in progress is rehabilitation and finalizing minor works. The final commissioning is planned for end of November 2013.