The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Dada Morero, alongside the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Councillor Jack Sekwaila, and local Ward councillors, officially opened the long-awaited new 88kVA Eldorado Park Substation during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, 3 September 2024.
Mayor Morero stated: “The community has waited a long time for this substation to operate and supply Eldorado Park, Bushkoppies, Freedom Park, and surrounding areas with electricity. A consistent supply of electricity means businesses can operate without losses, residents can go about their lives, and religious and educational institutions can function properly.”
However, he was quick to emphasise that load reduction and rotation would continue until residents reduce high electricity consumption, stop illegal connections, bypassing of electricity meters, and cable theft, all of which impact the uninterrupted supply of electricity.
MMC Sekwaila added: “State-of-the-art technology means that switching high voltage equipment on and off can be done safely because the high voltage gear can be monitored 24 hours a day without the need to physically check equipment.” He further noted that it was “no longer necessary for the high voltage yard” to be switched on from the Orlando Substation, as this could now be managed locally.
The old substation, which operated on a single 45MVA transformer, was prone to explosions and fires, often leaving residents without power for up to 48 hours. The new substation has a total running capacity of 138MVA from four 45MVA transformers, including a spare in case of breakdowns.
City Power CEO Tshifularo Mashava said: “Construction of the new substation began is March 2015 and the contract work was valued at R126 008 683 excluding cost price adjustments, rate of exchange and contingencies, however, in 2017 the contract with Setheo was terminated after the city’s forensics unit discovered fraudulent activities.”
Work resumed in 2021 with some delays waiting for equipment that had to be imported.
Thami Mthembu, who has been the project manager since 2023, explained that replacing the old substation had become essential due to its frequent malfunctions and outdated equipment. “The old station was highly faulty, costly to maintain, and difficult to integrate with other equipment because a lost feeder board was unable to work with other feeder boards,” he said.
The new substation is also linked to the master control room at head office in Reuven, which is monitored 24 hours a day. Any technical abnormalities can be detected and addressed almost immediately, preventing catastrophic damage. The substation is equipped with 24-hour closed-circuit television both inside and outside, along with security guards on constant patrol, all linked to the main security room in Reuven.
The construction of the substation also benefited several small businesses, including skills transfer to local artisans.
Written by Virgil James
03/09/2024
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