DURBAN - UMHLATHUZE Municipality is investing R130 million in an electricity infrastructure roll-out, to address power challenges caused by a recent spate of transformer bursts and to prevent a recurrence of them.
The municipality said on Wednesday it was replacing all transformers that were damaged by fire in the Hercules, Cygnus, Phoenix, Scorpio and Polaris sub-stations.
Spokesperson Mdu Ncalane said most transformers had reached the end of their lifespan and periodic maintenance had enabled them to continue operating. The remaining ones had been seriously overloaded, resulting in tripping and power failures.
“The replacement of transformers will be accompanied by the purchase of the 132KV feeder for Scorpio/Neptune and the replacement of a guard wire insulator,” Ncalane said.
He said two new transformers would be bought for the Hercules sub-station feeding the Richard’s Bay town.
“We will also buy one new 132/11KV transformer, for the Cygnus sub-station at eSikhaleni; a 132/11KV transformer for the Phoenix sub-station feeding Brackenham and Aquadene; a 123/11KV transformer for the Scorpio sub-station feeding Foskor, TWK and Grinrod; and a 132/11KV transformer for the Polaris sub-station feeding Alton industrial areas,” Ncalane said.
He said more than R130m was being invested in this critical infrastructure to ensure a stable supply of power to all residential and commercial customers.
Asked about the timing of this major investment – during the campaigning period for the local government elections – he said this had nothing to do with luring voters.
“Within six months we had four transformers burst into flames. So, we had to take money meant for transformer maintenance, add a little and buy new transformers.”
He said Covid-19 and the unrest in July had had a negative impact on the city’s revenue: “We were supposed to do a budget review in January 2022, but had to do it in September due to the bursting of multiple transformers.
Municipal manager Lulamile Mapholoba said most of the new transformers would be installed before the end of next month.
“We acknowledge the recent intermittent power supply mainly in Richards Bay for residential and commercial customers, and we have had to invest money in installing new infrastructure,” Mapholoba said.
She said investigations were under way at the Scorpio sub-station, where a transformer recently caught fire and burnt a control panel.
She said that this had forced electricians to conduct an emergency switch-off in the town and suburbs, for the fire to be extinguished, before switching customers to other transformers.
Each transformer costs R14m, which the municipality said increased to an estimated R22m with the transporting, instalment and other processes involved.
Daily News