August brings high- ‘light’ for Mhluzi
The construction of a multi-million rand substation in Mhluzi was by far the high-‘light’ for August.
‘More light in dark times’ by Gerhard Rheeder
The construction of the multi-million rand Mhluzi Substation is nearing completion, with only the stringing of conductors to be done on-site. Eskom must still construct its bulk substation in order to provide this new intake substation with electricity at 132kV.
The total project budget was R197 million, of which R148 million has been spent to date.
With the handover of the municipal substation fast approaching, the stringing of conductors started on Tuesday and is expected to be finalised by the end of the month.
The substation will be switched on for testing with a feed from the Sipres Substation after the conductors have been strung.
Construction started in March 2021 with months of groundwork, which had to be done on the rocky outcrop at Rockdale, where an
eight-metre rise had to be compensated for.
The new output substation will feed the Mhluzi Substation, Newtown Substation, Mandela Drive Substation, Ngwako Street Substation, Chromeville Substation and the Boskrans Substation, supplying electricity to Mhluzi.
The new substation has a 132kW capacity, compared to the Gholfsig Substation with its 88kW output.
The high-capacity substation was designed with an open bay for another transformer to be fitted, as the town expands. The site is currently fitted with two 40MVA transformers. When filled with oil, the weight of the transformer is close to 80 tonnes.
Mhluzi and large parts of town went without electricity for two weeks in December two years ago, when the Gholfsig Substation went up in flames. The new substation is connected to the ring feed in case Gholfsig, or other major substations, experience similar problems.
The project ran into some problems with the rocky outcrop of the area, which took months to work around. It was at some point in time necessary to do blasting to have some of the rocks removed.
The procurement of transformers also took some time because they are specifically designed and manufactured on the scope of each individual project.
What the community cannot see is the specialised copper earth mat which spans the length and breadth of the substation, to which the lightning arrestors and other equipment are also connected.
The control rooms house purpose-made breakers which will feed the various substations. The temperature in the control rooms boast state-of-the-art coolers with filters, to ensure that dust and debris are kept out, as these may interfere with the working of the breakers.
The site is also protected by state-of-the-art CCTV security.
The contractor, a local company called F-Tech Services, serves on a panel of contractors assisting the municipality with the construction and maintenance of electrical infrastructure.
Municipal MPAC Chairman Hennie Niemann, tasked with municipal spending oversight, says the substation is a benefit to all, “In these dark times we need more light,” he said.
