WEDNESDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2020, 10H2O: Supply to parts of Welkom feeding from Welkom Park
substation were restored late yesterday evening through back-feeding.
Partial supply was restored to Jurgenshof Mine and Brand Gold Mine Plant.
We thank and congratulate the restoration team for
their exceptional work and for the ingenuity that they have displayed in
finding a workable solution to this challenge. We also acknowledge and
thank Harmony Mines for their collaboration and support.
At 12:30 on Tuesday, 27 October 2020, the collapse
of a 132 kV tower on the Everest-Witpan feeder resulted in a loss of supply to
Witpan substation outside Welkom in the Free State. The structure
collapsed as a result of stay wire theft. Stay wires are the structures
that hold a pole in place.
Construction of a new 132 kV tower and reparation
of all other damages that resulted from the collapse of the tower are still
underway. Until such time that the network has been normalised, consumers
in Welkom feeding from Welkom Park substation are urged to use electricity
sparingly to avoid overloading.
Meanwhile, restoration of supply to other parts of
Welkom that have been affected by the collapse of two 132 kV towers on the
Everest-Welkom Bulk feeder on Sunday, 25 October 2020, continues today.
Upon excavation of the structures, it was found that one of the structures was
damaged by underground chemical erosion, compromising the structure’s ability
to withstand strong winds. When a storm hit the area on Sunday evening,
the tower collapsed and fell on the second tower.
Affected consumers are reminded to treat all
electrical installations as live and dangerous as electricity can be switched
on without notice.
Eskom apologises for the inconvenience and asks
for consumers to be patient while restoration is being performed.
For more information and updates, contact the
Eskom Contact Centre at 08600 ESKOM / 37566.
ENDS