Substation demolished: Power plans on the cards for Kloof
The substation in Kloof was demolished and plans are in place to construct and install a new substation.
AFTER years of back and forth, the shell of a substation, and a haven for criminals, at the intersection of Willingdon and Intengu Avenue in Kloof, has been demolished.
The cleared grounds will be used to install a new substation to feed the area and its surrounds.
Ward 10 councillor, Tex Collins, said, “The old substation stood derelict for many years and the surrounding residents were understandingly not happy with the situation. Over the years, many different ideas were mooted for the best way to put the old building to some good use. The municipality, however, had already decided that a new substation should be erected on the site.”
The Pr. Construction Health and Safety Agent, Glenn du Plooy, said the substation would be replaced with a 132/11kv substation.
“The increased potential for failure of its aged 33/11kV transformers, as well as the 33Kv switching gear and a 132/33kV transformers supplying Kloof substation from the Umgeni substation, is putting the Kloof area at risk of power failures,” said du Plooy.
Collins shared a similar opinion and said that even though there were a number of smaller substations dotted around the Kloof area, the construction of a new substation would provide a direct, reliable supply to the residents of Kloof and the surrounding areas.
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Kloof resident and chemical engineer, Jon Buzzard shared some history about the demolished building.
“The building housed a monstrous machine that took Eskom’s power at about 30 000 volts of AC (alternating current) and transformed it to 5 000 volts of DC (direct current). Every now and again it would blow up and the building was built to handle that type of thing. The windows were perspex, the walls were thick and reinforced and in front of every window was a blast wall. This was purely to feed the main line, which was then moved and the rectifiers then became redundant,” said Buzzard.
Buzzard said the unused substation attracted a criminal element as people were hijacked, pedestrians were mugged and it became a safe haven for thieves at night.
“I am delighted that there will be a new substation. Anything is better than that spook house. It will be a very expensive piece of equipment and the new the equipment will ensure that less stress is placed on Eskom,” said Buzzard.
“I have been in Kloof for six years and it is quite an unbelievable place to live in as we get together and fix things. I think it (the new substation) is a tribute to everybody. There are no bad guys. There is nothing to be ashamed of and everything to be proud of.”
Within two weeks, the building was demolished and foundation holes have been laid.
Du Plooy said it would take approximately three years to build and commission the new substation.
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