ORIGINAL SCHEME
The Victoria Falls Power Company, Limited, generally known as the VFP, was formed at the end of 1906. It intended to supply electrical power in South Africa and Rhodesia [now Zimbabwe] and to acquire the concessional rights to develop the potential of the Victoria Falls. This was estimated to be 250 000 horsepower [190 MW] at minimum flow of the river. Supply to the Rand would be given by transmitting power from the Falls over a distance of approximately 1100 km, and partly by steam generating stations located on the Reef. (Hadley, In: Jour. Institution of Electrical Engineers (London) 1913:2)
This original proposal was subsequently modified by giving up the plan to supply part of the requirements with power from the Victoria Falls. After the Boer War, there was an urgent need for more power and there was no time to develop the Falls scheme. The increase in the coal supplies in the Transvaal had brought about a reduction in the price of local fuel, and various parties with vested interests had objections to the importation of power from outside the Transvaal. The Transvaal Government also feared that importing hydro-electric power from outside the territory would upset the local coal mining industry as well as the finances of the State railways. These were among the principal reasons for delaying the development of the Falls scheme until the population had increased, or until the demand for manufacturing sites with cheap electric power from the Falls justified the expenditure. It was therefore decided to supply the Witwatersrand from steam plant using local coal, at least as an interim measure. (Hadley, In: Jour. Institution of Electrical Engineers (London) 1913:2; Fenwick and Torr, Electric Power Supply to the Mining Industry…1961:23; Troost and Norman, Electricity Supply in South Africa 1909-1969:177)
The VFP did eventually build a small power station on the south bank of the Victoria Falls. It was commissioned in March 1938 and provided power for local supplies. (Symphony of Power 2000:30, 145)
%20VFP%20LOGO.jpg)
VFP LOGO
EARLY CONCESSIONS
Siemens and Halske were the first to obtain a
concession in 1894, and formed the Rand Central Electric Works, Ltd, in 1895,
which had a plant aggregating 3,2 MW capacity by 1906. Another concession was
obtained by the Simmer and Jack Mine in 1897, from which the General Electric
Power Company was established. In 1906 this concern had a capacity of 2,5 MW at
the Driehoek Power Station. In 1905 Messrs. Lewis and Marks, having in view the
possibility of supplying the Rand from their coal fields at Vereeniging,
commenced obtaining way-leaves for a pole line, while certain manufacturing
companies sent out representatives to report on the prospects. (Hadley,
In: Jour. Institution of Electrical Engineers (London) 1913:2)
The Victoria Falls Power Company ultimately took
over the two existing supply companies in 1907, and purchased the Vereeniging
way-leaves from Messrs. Lewis and Marks. At the same time they entered into an
agreement with them for the right to establish a power station at Vereeniging.
In 1907, pending the installation of modern turbine-driven plant, a supply of 4
MW was given from the existing steam stations that had been purchased. (Hadley,
In: Jour. Institution of Electrical Engineers (London) 1913:3)
CHEAPER POWER FROM LARGE MODERN TURBO-ALTERNATORS
The Rand Central Electric Works and the General Electric Power Company's Driehoek Power Station had both failed to compete with the cost of steam power in the mines. Their prices were about 2 pence per unit, which was more than twice that of steam power in the mines. Using large modern turbo-alternators, the VFP would offer power at not much more than 0,5 pence per unit. (Report of the Power Companies Commission 1909:10 (T.G. 13-'10); Fenwick and Torr 1961:24)
As soon as it was appreciated that a considerably cheaper power supply would be available, the mining groups entered into contracts with the Company. The demands for power increased so quickly that it became difficult for the Company to raise capital and install plant rapidly enough to satisfy the demand. The Company had for several years in succession to provide funds at the rate of £1 million per annum for extending its plant and system. (Hadley, In: Jour. Institution of Electrical Engineers (London) 1913:3; Bernard Price, In: Transactions of the SA Institute of Electrical Engineers, Aug 1941:270)
THE HARPER CONTRACT AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RAND MINES POWER SUPPLY CO
WA Harper, an eminent British consulting engineer, came to South Africa in 1908 to give evidence on behalf of the Contractors in the arbitration case resulting from the rejection of the gas engine plant installed by the Johannesburg Municipality. He noticed that although the VFP had entered into agreements with several of the Mining Groups, it had not yet made any contract with the largest group, the Rand Mines, Limited and Eckstein and Co, which later became the Central Mining and Investment Corporation, Ltd. In 1908 this Group decided to change their mines over to electric driving. Harper therefore made a contract with the Group, which he might either put into effect or dispose of to others. He was unable to raise the necessary capital, and approached the VFP. (Hadley, In: Jour. Institution of Electrical Engineers (London) 1913:3; Rider, In: Jour. Institution of Electrical Engineers (London) 1915:609; Bernard Price, In: Transactions of the SA Institute of Electrical Engineers, Aug 1941:270)
The Central Mining-Rand Mines Group had agreed to purchase the whole of their power requirements of electrical energy and compressed air for a period of 12 years and to shut down all their existing boiler plant. The VFP acquired the benefits of the contract from Harper and proceeded to negotiate with the Central Mining-Rand Mines Group with a view to improving on its terms. The VFP were successful in obtaining the extension of the contract from 12 to 20 years, and had 15 mines included in the Group instead of 12. There were other mines that were not bound in the same way, but they contracted to take electricity from no other power company, and to continue to take any supply required by them exclusively from the VFP. There was a further stipulation in the case of the Central Mining-Rand Mines Group that the supply should be given by a company to be formed for the purpose and registered in the Transvaal. The VFP had been registered in Rhodesia [Zimbabwe] on 17 October 1906. This led to the registration of the Rand Mines Power Supply Company, Limited (also known as the RMPS), the VFP providing the entire capital for the company. The formation of a separate power company was due to the fact that the Group wished to secure a separate generating and supply plant upon which their mines would have first call. (SA Mining Journal, 13 Mar 1909:3; Report of the Power Companies Commission 1909:11-13 (T.G. 13-'10); Hadley, In: Jour. Institution of Electrical Engineers (London) 1913:3; Rider, In: Jour. Institution of Electrical Engineers (London) 1915:609)
The Victoria Falls Power Co changed its name to the Victoria Falls and Transvaal Power Co in 1909, but was still known as the VFP. The RMPS Co and the VFP Co were worked under two separate licences granted by the Government in terms of the Power Act passed in 1910, but were operated by the same management and staff. The systems supplying the power were kept as distinct as possible, the overhead and underground transmission and distribution systems being separate from one another. It was the intention that when both companies had their full plant installed, the systems would not be linked, except in times of emergency when either power company could assist the other. But by 1914 the systems were still interconnected and, from an engineering point of view, could be treated as one undertaking. (Hadley, In: Jour. Institution of Electrical Engineers (London) 1913:3; Rider, In: Jour. Institution of Electrical Engineers (London) 1915:609)
POWER COMPANIES COMMISSION
The Transvaal Colonial Government appointed a Commission of Enquiry, on 1 May 1909, to report upon "The desirability of the establishment of large electric power companies in the Transvaal, and the probable effect of such companies on …industry ...the Railways …agriculture …labour …and the country generally." Mr. Harper and Professor Klingenberg, joint consulting engineer for the new plant of the VFP and the RMPS Co, were among those examined. The report of the Commission was submitted in April 1910. The Commission found that large power companies were desirable, provided they were under proper government supervision. This led to the introduction of The Transvaal Power Act of 1910. The State viewed the provision of electricity as a public service to be placed under its authority. (SA Mining Journal, May 1909:271, June 1909:409, April 1910:94; Report of the Power Companies Commission 1909 (T.G. 13-'10); Bernard Price, In: Transactions of the SA Institute of Electrical Engineers, Aug 1941:270; Symphony of Power 2000:44)
FOUR POWER STATIONS BUILT
At the end of 1906 the Rand Central Electric Works, Ltd, had planned to add extensions to their station, but this was not done because the VFP took the plant over. The new Brakpan Power Station was built instead, alongside the Rand Central Electric Works. Another station was built by the VFP at Simmerpan and the two stations were interconnected. Brakpan started generating in 1908 and Simmerpan in 1909.
The availability of water restricted the choice of sites to artificial pans [or lakes] situated along the reef and to the Vaal River, which ran parallel to the reef and about 55 km to the south. (Hadley, In: Jour. Institution of Electrical Engineers (London) 1913:4)
When the contract with the Central Mining-Rand Mines Group was concluded, a site for a new station was selected at the Rosherville Dam. This station would supply electricity and compressed air to the Group, and was therefore built by the RMPS Co. Construction began in 1909 and generation started in 1911.
Coal was available at Brakpan and at Springs on the Witwatersrand and at Vereeniging on the Vaal River. There was also coal at Witbank about 100 km to the east of the eastern extremity of the gold fields. All coal sources had rail connections with the gold mines and the direct link between Apex and Witbank had been completed at the end of 1906. (Fenwick and Torr, Electric Power Supply to the Mining Industry…1961:1)
The VFP had agreed to build a power station at Vereeniging and to use the duff coal that was accumulating there. Since demand at Rosherville was outstripping supply, it was decided that the RMPS Co should also build the station at Vereeniging. Operation commenced in 1912 and the station was interconnected with Rosherville by means of the first 80 kV transmission line in South Africa. Vereeniging Power Station was also the first in the world to be sited on a coal field. (Hadley, In: Jour. Institution of Electrical Engineers (London) 1913:4-17; Jacobs AM, The Development of Electrical Power Supply in the Union of South Africa, In: Transactions of the SA Institute of Electrical Engineers, Aug 1941:259-260; Troost and Norman, Electricity Supply in South Africa 1909-1969:177-8)
By 1912 plant totalling nearly 160 MW was installed as follows:
Brakpan
|
Two 3 MW sets
|
Simmerpan
|
Six 3 MW sets
|
Rosherville
|
Five 9,6 MW sets and six 3,5 MW
steam-driven air compressors and three 7 MW steam-driven air compressors
under construction
|
Vereeniging
|
Two 9,6 MW sets and two 12 MW
sets
|
Robinson Central
|
Six electrically driven air compressors each of
3,5 MW capacity
|
|
(Hadley, In: Jour. Institution of Electrical
Engineers (London) 1913:4-5); Otley and Pickles, In: Journal of the SA
Institution of Engineers, Jan 1917:90-98)
Other large sources of generation in 1914 comprised
plant at the Randfontein Estates Gold Mines amounting to 26 MW [including three
6 MW and three 2 MW sets], at the East Rand Proprietary Mines 19,95 MW
[including a 3 MW set, a 6 MW set and a 6,6 MW set], and 13,25 MW at
Johannesburg Municipality [including three 3 MW turbines]. (SA Mining
Journal, Nov 1914:167)
TERMS OF SUPPLY
The chief mining groups contracted for an
electrical power supply for periods of 20 or 12 years. Supplies were given at
2100 volts and 525 volts. The standard price in the mining contracts covering
not less than 12 years was 0,525 pence per unit. The introduction of these
prices reduced the cost of power to the mines by about 40% below the cost of
power from their own steam engines. It resulted in reducing the cost of gold
production from between 6 and 12 pence per ton of ore milled. It also resulted
in a considerable saving of capital expenditure to the mines. (SA Mining
Journal, 13 Mar 1909:3; Hadley, In: Jour. Institution of Electrical Engineers
(London) 1913:4)
COMPRESSED AIR SUPPLIES
About a quarter of the power demand of a mine was
in the form of compressed air, which was used for the operation of jackhammers,
pumping and ventilation. In addition to the supply of electricity to the
Central Mining-Rand Mines Group, the conditions called for the supply of
compressed air. The agreement made in 1908 for the bulk supply to the Group was
to take effect from 1st October 1910. The start was delayed because some
machinery was lost in a shipwreck. It was not until August 1914 that the RMPS
Co was able to supply the entire compressed air load, and up to that date some
of the old steam compressors on the mines were still used. From 1911,
compressed air was also supplied by the VFP to the Gold Fields Group from the
Brakpan Power Station, where the compressors were installed in the building
that previously housed the plant of the Rand Central Electric Works.

Robinson Compressor Station
(The electrically driven air compressors had a capacity of 124 000 hp)
The VFP and RMPS established a scheme for the
production and distribution of compressed air on a much larger scale than had
been attempted anywhere else in the world. An extensive pipework reticulation
system was installed, which eventually comprised over 70 km of piping, some of
it 27,5 inches in diameter. Certain sections were buried and others laid in
open trenches supported on concrete stools. The compressed air plant totalled
over 117 MW when taken over by Escom in 1948.(SA Mining Journal, Jan
1909:1299, May 1909:329, Aug 1909:675, Sep 1910:121, Feb 1911:947; Hadley, In:
Jour. Institution of Electrical Engineers (London) 1913:3; Rider, In: Jour.
Institution of Electrical Engineers (London) 1915:610; Bernard Price, In:
Journal of the South African Institution of Engineers, Aug 1916:6-7 and South
African Engineer and Electrical Review, Oct 1941:7; Escom Annual Report 1948;
Draper 1967:124-7)
LAYOUT OF THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM
The lay-out of the VFP and RMPS systems comprised a
narrow strip of the country running from east to west for about 80 km. The 40
kV system formed an artery running from Bantjes (Florida) in the west to
Brakpan in the east. This was fed from Brakpan Power Station at the eastern end
and Rosherville and Simmerpan near the centre. The terminal of the 80 kV
transmission from Vereeniging was at Robinson Central, which was a little to
the west of Johannesburg. In order to reduce the capital costs of the two power
companies, it was agreed that certain of the mines, lying at the extreme east
and west, should be supplied from the electrical system of the VFP on behalf of
the RMPS Co. Certain other mines that were customers of the VFP, would
similarly be supplied by the RMPS Co. The transmission and distribution
circuits were equipped with Merz-Price relay systems, an automatic system of
discrimination between circuit breakers. This system had been developed by
Bernard Price while he was working as chief electrical assistant for the
prominent British consulting firm of Merz and McLellan from 1901 until he came
to South Africa in 1909. He became Chief Engineer and later General Manager, of
the VFP. The operation of a power system in an area of severe and frequent
lightning storms was a major technical problem to be contended with. The area
was described as about the worst district in the world for lightning storms at
high altitude, the altitude at Johannesburg being 1756 metres. (SA
Mining Journal, July 1912:784; Oct 1913:159; Hadley, In: Jour. Institution of
Electrical Engineers (London) 1913:5, 10; Rider, In: Jour. Institution of
Electrical Engineers (London) 1915:610; Bernard Price, Power Supply to the
Mines of the Rand, In: SA Mining Journal, 27 Feb 1915 p.vi; Bernard Price,
Journal of the South African Institution of Engineers, Aug 1916:7; Bernard
Price, In: Transactions of the SA Institute of Electrical Engineers, Aug
1941:270)
After the Rosherville Power Station came into
service, explosions and failures of switches on short circuit were experienced
as a result of the increase in fault currents on the system. The same problems
were being experienced in America on systems of similarly large output. It was
found necessary to insert additional reactances in order to limit the rush of
energy on short-circuit. (Hadley, In: Jour. Institution of Electrical
Engineers (London) 1913:18-19)

Electrical transmission and compressed air network
(From AE Hadley "Power Supply on the Rand")
POWER STATION PLANT LAYOUT
There was a general resemblance in the lay-out of
the first power stations of the VFP, which were the most modern then available.
The design and lay-out was largely due to Professor Dr. Klingenberg of Berlin,
who was a director and Engineer-in-Chief of the Allgemeine Elektrizitaets
Gesellschaft (the AEG). The original turbines at all four of the first VFP
stations were supplied by the AEG. (Hadley, In: Jour. Institution of
Electrical Engineers (London) 1913:5; SA Mining Journal, Nov 1914:167; Fenwick
and Torr, Electric Power Supply to the Mining Industry…1961:2)
The VFP decided to use the Prat ejector type
chimney for their first stations. These were found to give the "utmost
satisfaction" and great flexibility in boiler house operation. An
electrically driven rotary fan propelled cold air through the ejector situated
at roof height in the chimney, thereby producing a suction in the flues. A
draught of about one inch was usually obtained. A torpedo-shaped damper in the
air pipe regulated the pressure of the air jet and the boiler load could be
easily regulated to suit changes in the steam requirements. It was claimed to
make the plant absolutely smokeless. (Hadley, In: Jour. Institution of
Electrical Engineers (London) 1913:14-15)

Other basic features of the first power stations
were:
i.
the steam
pressure was 220 lb/sq.in. and the boilers were fitted with chain grate
stokers,
ii.
the major
switchgear was housed indoors, a cellular type of construction being adopted,
iii.
water
cooling was used on generator and coupling transformers,
iv.
Merz-Price
circulating current protection was provided on generators and transformers,
v.
the
alternators were either 4 or 6 pole machines, operating at 1500 or 1000 rev/min
respectively,
vi.
provision
was made for separate excitation from the station battery in case of failure of
the exciter,
vii. most of
the essential auxiliaries at the power stations were steam driven, which was a
desirable feature during system disturbances and times of low frequency
operation,
viii. the
alternators were directly connected to step-up transformers, except the 3 MW
sets at Simmerpan, which soon had to be rewound and have transformers installed
(because of breakdowns occurring following electrical faults on the system).
(Fenwick and Torr, Electric Power Supply to the Mining
Industry…1961:1-2; Troost and Norman, Electricity Supply in South Africa
1909-1969:178:)
The Rand Central Electric Works and the Driehoek
Power Stations were closed down soon after the Brakpan and Simmerpan Power
Stations were commissioned. Extensions were made at the new stations as demand
increased. (Fenwick and Torr, Electric Power Supply to the Mining
Industry …1961:24)
OTHER SERVICES
At the same time that the initial system was
established, three other important services were established:
i.
A system
control centre was established at Simmerpan. This centre controlled load
despatching at power stations and supervised all switching, linking and
earthing of high voltage apparatus on the system in accordance with a
comprehensive set of safety regulations. This centre has grown to be the
present national control centre, which directs Eskom's entire
transmission network today.
ii.
A central
workshop was established for the repair and overhaul of all major items of
plant. This workshop was taken over by Eskom Enterprises when formed in 1999.
The major workshops are still at Rosherville in Gauteng. Branch operations are
situated throughout South Africa and also in other countries, where it has been
awarded significant contracts.
i.
A testing
department was established, which was responsible for metering, instruments and
electrical protection apparatus. This has now become the Protection,
Telecommunications and Metering (PTM) division of Eskom Enterprises.
(Fenwick and Torr, Electric Power Supply to the
Mining Industry…1961:2; Eskom Enterprises Annual Report 2000)
1922 RAND REVOLT
A sharp drop in the price of gold in 1921 led to a
decrease in mine-worker's wages, which in turn led to industrial unrest and the
1922 Rand Revolt. The Prime minister, General Smuts, mobilised the Army and
martial law was declared. The VFP power stations were cordoned off by the Army
and were kept going by all available staff. At Brakpan Power Station sniping
occurred but no damage was done to the plant. By 16 March the revolt had been
crushed, but at a price of over 200 lives. (Symphony of Power 2000:67)
MERZ AND MCLELLAN REPORTS - ESCOM ESTABLISHED
A report entitled "South African
Railways - Report on the Introduction of Electric Traction", was
completed in June 1919 by the British firm of consultants, Merz and McLellan.
The report was addressed to Sir William Hoy, General Manager of the South
African Railways. A second report, entitled "Electric Power Supply
in the Union of South Africa", was submitted to the government
headed by Jan Christiaan Smuts in April 1920. A government
appointed committee investigated the implications of this report. The findings
of the committee led to the Government passing the Electricity Act in
September 1922 and the establishment of Escom in 1923. The name was changed to
Eskom in 1987. (Merz and McLellan Reports, 1919 and 1920)
WITBANK POWER STATION
After World War I and the 1922 Rand Revolt
additional power was urgently required. The VFP, who virtually held the
monopoly for supplies to the gold mines, planned a new power station to be
situated in the Witbank coal fields and connected to the existing system at
Brakpan by means of a double circuit 132 kV transmission line. It was planned
to install 20 MW sets. There were distinct economic advantages in building the
power station at Witbank on account of the large quantity of duff (fine) waste
coal, which could be bought at a very moderate cost. The cost of transport over
the Government railways would also be avoided. The low cost of fuel would more
than compensate for the additional costs in locating the station 100 km to the
west. The plans included the construction of spray ponds at site and the
building of a dam across the Olifants River. Make-up water would be pumped over
a distance of about 10 km. (Jacobs AM, The Development of Electrical
Power Supply in the Union of South Africa, In: Transactions of the SA Institute
of Electrical Engineers, Aug 1941:262; Fenwick and Torr, Electric Power Supply
to the Mining Industry…1961:2)
When the RMPS Co was formed in 1908, the Central
Mining-Rand Mines Group had insisted on being supplied by a separate system upon
which their mines would have first call. The Group was therefore supplied by
the Rosherville and Vereeniging stations and the remaining mines from Brakpan
and Simmerpan. The VFP suggested that with Witbank in operation, a pooled
system would be more reliable and also cheaper because of the low costs at
Witbank. The Central Mining-Rand Mines Group agreed to link the systems, which
thereafter became one organisation from an operational point of view.
(Report of the Power Companies Commission 1909:11-13; Symphony of
Power 2000:83-84)
The VFP made application in 1923 for an amendment
of its Licence in order to build the power station, but this was opposed by the
newly established ESCOM. Dr van der Bijl, the Chairman, argued that the VFP did
not supply electricity at cost. Prime Minister Jan Smuts requested Charles Merz
to intervene. Merz suggested that Witbank be financed and owned by ESCOM, but
designed, built and operated by the VFP. The compromise satisfied the interests
of both parties and the power station was brought into operation in May 1926.
Three 20 MW sets were initially installed, operating at 3000 rev/min and a
steam pressure of 220 lb/sq.in. The line from the power station to Brakpan was
the first 132 kV transmission line to be in operation in the British Empire at
that time. (ESCOM Annual Report 1969:15; Symphony of Power 2000:82-3)
DISASTERS IN 1925 AND 1927
In December 1925 one of the generator rotor shafts
at Vereeniging Power Station sheared and
the heavy rotor tore through the stator. Massive pieces of metal were hurled
through the power station roof and end of the building, some landing two
kilometres away in the Free State on the other side of the Vaal River.
Miraculously, nobody was hurt, although the building was extensively damaged
and the machine was wrecked. The set was later replaced by a 20 MW
turbo-alternator. (VFP Chairman, In: SA Mining Journal, Aug 1927:747;
Symphony of Power 2000:37-8)
A less fortunate accident occurred at Brakpan Power
Station in October 1927, when four workers were killed and others seriously
injured. A boiler exploded and the dished ends of the steam drum were hurled a
considerable distance. The boiler was totally wrecked and the buildings
extensively damaged. (SA Mining and Engineering Journal, Oct 1927:191;
Symphony of Power 2000:32)
Due to further plant shortages, the power system
had to be sectionalised in 1928 and the electrical frequency on one section
raised to 51,5 Hz in order to boost output of the air compressors. This
condition persisted until well into the 1930's. (Fenwick and Torr, Electric
Power Supply to the Mining Industry…1961:2)
KLIP AND VAAL POWER STATIONS
The total installed capacity of the existing
stations feeding into the Rand-Witbank area in 1932 was 360 MW, but it was not
practical to extend these stations sufficiently to meet the expected growth in
demand. A similar agreement was entered into between the VFP and ESCOM by which
the Klip Power Station would be financed
and owned by ESCOM, but be constructed and operated by the VFP on behalf of
ESCOM. The same principle was also followed in the development of new
transmission and distribution networks in the Rand Extension licensed area.
Klip Power Station had the distinction of being the largest steam power station
in the Southern Hemisphere, having a total of 424 MW of installed plant. The
rate of construction and commissioning was a world record and it possibly had
the greatest output of any power station in the world at that time as well as
the lowest cost of production. It was the first in Escom to have cooling
towers. When completed in 1940, the station capacity was over four times that
of Witbank Power Station, previously the largest station owned by ESCOM. (Pickles
and Trelease, Klip Generating Station, In: Transactions of the SA Institute of
Electrical Engineers, May 1940)
Even the large power resources of the Klip Power
Station, started up in March 1936, were not expected to keep pace with the
ever-increasing demand for electricity. In co-operation with the VFP, ESCOM therefore decided in 1938, to build the Vaal Power Station. It was to be
constructed on the Free State side of the Vaal River and would be the first
ESCOM station to be built in the Free State. As in the case of Witbank and
Klip, the station would be financed and owned by ESCOM, but be constructed and
operated by the VFP on behalf of ESCOM. Like Klip, it was also a pithead
station and the same arrangements were made for the extension of the network in
order to supply the new gold fields in the Free State. (ESCOM Annual
Report 1943:12; Fenwick and Torr, Electric Power Supply to the Mining
Industry…1961:26)
TAKE-OVER BY ESCOM
In 1945, negotiations were started that led to the
take over of the VFP and the purchase by ESCOM of its assets. A clause in the
Power Act of 1910 of the old Transvaal Colonial Government, made provision for
the expropriation of the VFP after a duration of 35 years. The clause was
included in the Electricity Act No. 42 of 1922. A stalemate developed regarding
the date of expropriation because of the different dates of the two Acts. By
June 1948, ESCOM had already contributed about one-half of the capital required
for the supply of power to the mining industry. Negotiations eventually led to
the purchase by Escom of the electricity undertaking of the VFP for £14,5
million. This took place on 1 July 1948 and was the biggest merger ever in
South Africa up to that time. As from the date of take-over the system became
Escom's "Rand Undertaking", but this was later changed to "Rand
and Orange Free State (or R&OFS) Undertaking". The compressed air
plant totalled 117,6 MW when taken over in July 1948. (ESCOM Annual
Report 1948:7; Escom Golden Jubilee 1923-1973:21; Fenwick and Torr,
Electric Power Supply to the Mining Industry…1961:6, 26; Symphony of Power
2000:100-106)
Power Station and Compressor Station plant at the
end of December 1948 consisted of the following:
Brakpan
|
One 3 MW generator, two at 12,5
MW and one at 20 MW. Total: 48 MW
Three reciprocating, two turbo air compressors, totalling 7 600 hp
|
Simmerpan
|
Six 3 MW generators and two at
11 MW. Total: 40 MW
|
Rosherville
|
Five 9,6 MW generators and one
at 12,5 MW. Total 60,5 MW
Eight steam turbine driven turbo air compressors totalling 48 800 hp
|
Vereeniging
|
Three 20 MW generators and
three at 32,5 MW. Total 157,5 MW
|
Robinson Central
|
Six electrically driven turbo
air compressors totalling 14 000 hp
|
Canada Dam*
|
Five electrically driven turbo
air compressors totalling 22 200 hp
|
New Modder Mine
|
Three electrically driven
reciprocating compressors totalling 1 350 hp
|
Modder B Mine
|
Six electrically driven
compressors, 5 reciprocating, one turbo, totalling 5 500 hp
|
Compressed air plant at the end of 1948 totalled 99
450 hp or 74,190 MW (Escom Annual Report 1948:98)
* Canada Dam was started up in 1932. (Draper 1967:126-7)
STAFF
The VFP Chairman, the Marquis of Winchester, paid a
visit to South Africa in 1911, where he was engaged for two months in
Johannesburg on the business of the company. Arthur E Hadley later became the
London-based Chairman. (SA Mining Journal, Aug 1912:923; Symphony of
Power 2000:65-66)
The operating and maintenance staff members were
initially drawn mainly from Britain and were under the direction of Dr. Bernard
Price, as Chief Engineer. He was assisted by TG Otley as Mechanical Engineer
and Charles Bryden as Electrical Engineer. Two major technical problems facing
them were the burning of low-grade coal and the operation of a power system in
an area of severe and frequent lightning storms. These persons were pioneers
who laid the foundation for the present bulk supplies in South Africa. The VFP
was at one time the largest power supply undertaking in the British Empire and
provided the basic system from which the present ESCOM system was developed. (Fenwick
and Torr, Electric Power Supply to the Mining Industry…1961:2; Troost and
Norman, Electricity Supply in South Africa 1909-1969:177)
Bernard Price was born in England in 1877. He
showed great promise as an engineering student. He joined the firm of
consulting engineers, Merz and McLellan in 1901, and had special interest in
methods of protecting generators, transformers and cables from damage as a
result of electrical faults. He came to South Africa in 1909 as Chief Engineer
to the VFP. The high voltage lines and generating equipment on the
Witwatersrand suffered a great deal of damage from lightning strikes and Price
continued his work in connection with overcoming this problem. He held the post
of Chief Engineer until 1926, when he was appointed as General Manager. In 1936
he became Resident Director and TG Otley was promoted to General Manager. Price
was also active in many professional societies and committees and was
internationally recognised for his technical expertise. (GR Bozzoli, Forging
Ahead, South Africa's Pioneering Engineers, 1997:183-191; Symphony of Power
2000:55-56)
As early as 1908 the VFP supplied housing for
its employees. Houses and single quarters were built simultaneously with
the Simmerpan and Rosherville power stations in order to house operating
staff. A Germiston contractor built the houses for approximately £600 a
pair. Power station employees were also drawn from Johannesburg’s southern
suburbs. Initially the houses were offered rent-free to lure them away from
the attractions of Johannesburg to what were at that stage isolated spots
in the countryside. Public transport was limited to a horse-drawn bus to
and from Cleveland, and stables were provided for employees who owned
horses. In the 1920’s motorcars became more and more popular and were seen
in Rosherville Township, not without causing quite a stir amongst the
residents. (ESCOM Megawatt, August 1977 No 43, pg. 19)
In a Souvenir published on the occasion of a
visit to the power station by members of the Senate and House of Assembly
in 1925, the following was recorded:
“At each Generating station there is a village
of houses occupied by the Company’s staff and employees, that at
Rosherville comprising 42 houses and 40 single quarters. The rents charged
at this and other stations vary from £4-10s. to £5 per month for houses and
£1 to £1-5s. per month for single quarters, and the employee living in the
Company’s house is provided with light, coal, water and sanitary services
free of charge. The Company also has provided tennis courts, bowling
greens, a large sports ground, cricket and football grounds, shooting
ranges, pavilions, recreation halls and billiard rooms, and plans are now
being prepared for a swimming bath to be built on the property at
Rosherville”.
At the VFP power stations the employees could
be divided into the following three groups:
I.
A small, but highly skilled "officers
corps" consisting of engineers of whom the majority were British
immigrants from the industrial areas of northern England and Scotland,
II. A middle class consisting mostly of local
skilled white supervisors, clerks and artisans,
III. A large group of unskilled labourers.
The officer class was extremely loyal to the
company. When the VFP decided to establish a pension scheme in 1925, it was
only this professional class who was to benefit. ESCOM had always owned
Witbank, Klip and Vaal, but they had been operated by the VFP on behalf of
ESCOM. After the take-over by ESCOM, all VFP employees were transferred to
the RMPS Co up to 31 December 1948. From 1 January 1949 they were formally
transferred to ESCOM. The Escom staff complement was increased by almost
200% (from 2 692 to 7 850). All staff members could then benefit from the
Pension Scheme, a Home-Ownership Scheme, a Medical Benefit Society and a
Provident Fund for the dependants of an employee in case of his death.
(Escom: Twenty-five Years, 1923-1948, p35; Fenwick
and Torr, Electric Power Supply to the Mining Industry …1961:26; ESCOM Golden Jubilee 1923-1973:21; Symphony of Power 2000:65-66, 106)
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