Power Line Africa celebrates milestone
New power line extends over 287 km
The asset can now be handed over to NamPower, which can electrify it within a month and connect it to the grid.
"Power Line considers it an honour to have learnt from NamPower, to take the skills to other countries and bring them back, and to build this power line. Together, we will do it better. As Namibians, we will stand together. Well done!"
This was said over the weekend by Richard Himmel of Power Line Africa (Pty) Ltd., the company to which he has dedicated his life.
Power Line Africa is a company active in the electricity supply industry, specialising in turnkey contracting and project management.
The company focuses on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) market and specialises in rural electrification, distribution networks, and overhead transmission line contracting.
Success
The company, which is fully-Namibian owned, celebrated the completion of the 2038H overhead power cable system of 400 kilovolts (kV) from Auas to Gerus this weekend at Farm Sukses.
The line spans 287 kilometres and 566 towers, running from the Auas substation near Dordabis to the Gerus substation outside Otjiwarongo.
According to Martin van der Merwe, a senior electrical engineer at NamPower, this is a commendable achievement that will have a significant nationwide impact. NamPower had previously stated that the new line would enhance its network's capacity to redirect electricity on a large scale within the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).
Volker Rϋgheimer, speaking on behalf of the contractors, was pleased to highlight that the asset can now be handed over to NamPower, which can electrify it within a month and connect it to the grid to start using it profitably. The tender was delivered on time and within budget.
Massive project
The N$630 million contract was signed on 16 April 2021, the start of a massive project, according to Juan Erlank, Power Line Africa's site manager.
The base camp was quickly established, and 150 employees were hired. Erlank mentioned that an area stretching over 289 km was cleared of vegetation starting 11 June that year.
To accommodate the construction team, 180 tents were transported in 11 containers, 10 755 tent pegs were driven in, and 281 gates were built.
He thanked the farm owner of Sukses, Dirk Potgieter, for his hospitality in accommodating the massive camp, stating that it was crucial to the project's success. "Success was the beginning of our success."
Excavation work began on 1 July to remove 8 000 cubic metres of soil before 1 230 loads of concrete were delivered to lay the foundation. On 20 October, work started to assemble the towers made of 3 500 tonnes of steel.
Wire was stretched over 3 255 km, 250 loads of building materials were unloaded, and 220 containers were unpacked just to complete the cable work. A total of 836 000 work hours were dedicated to the project, Erlank said.
Top standards
According to Francois Schoombee, Power Line Africa's CEO, over the last two years the company has been able to span 400 kV cable over about 500 km, including the Juno Gromis project it completed with Eskom in South Africa.
Power Line Africa can develop key solutions in-house, and with certification from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) the company can compete at the continental level, he says.
Martin Wucher, who was involved in the company's housing development in Osona, pointed out that various generations, ethnic groups and different individuals are involved in Power Line Africa. "You have done away with the race card and replaced it with the scorecard," he said. "It has grown from a one-man operation to a company making waves across Africa and worldwide."
This was said over the weekend by Richard Himmel of Power Line Africa (Pty) Ltd., the company to which he has dedicated his life.
Power Line Africa is a company active in the electricity supply industry, specialising in turnkey contracting and project management.
The company focuses on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) market and specialises in rural electrification, distribution networks, and overhead transmission line contracting.
Success
The company, which is fully-Namibian owned, celebrated the completion of the 2038H overhead power cable system of 400 kilovolts (kV) from Auas to Gerus this weekend at Farm Sukses.
The line spans 287 kilometres and 566 towers, running from the Auas substation near Dordabis to the Gerus substation outside Otjiwarongo.
According to Martin van der Merwe, a senior electrical engineer at NamPower, this is a commendable achievement that will have a significant nationwide impact. NamPower had previously stated that the new line would enhance its network's capacity to redirect electricity on a large scale within the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).
Volker Rϋgheimer, speaking on behalf of the contractors, was pleased to highlight that the asset can now be handed over to NamPower, which can electrify it within a month and connect it to the grid to start using it profitably. The tender was delivered on time and within budget.
Massive project
The N$630 million contract was signed on 16 April 2021, the start of a massive project, according to Juan Erlank, Power Line Africa's site manager.
The base camp was quickly established, and 150 employees were hired. Erlank mentioned that an area stretching over 289 km was cleared of vegetation starting 11 June that year.
To accommodate the construction team, 180 tents were transported in 11 containers, 10 755 tent pegs were driven in, and 281 gates were built.
He thanked the farm owner of Sukses, Dirk Potgieter, for his hospitality in accommodating the massive camp, stating that it was crucial to the project's success. "Success was the beginning of our success."
Excavation work began on 1 July to remove 8 000 cubic metres of soil before 1 230 loads of concrete were delivered to lay the foundation. On 20 October, work started to assemble the towers made of 3 500 tonnes of steel.
Wire was stretched over 3 255 km, 250 loads of building materials were unloaded, and 220 containers were unpacked just to complete the cable work. A total of 836 000 work hours were dedicated to the project, Erlank said.
Top standards
According to Francois Schoombee, Power Line Africa's CEO, over the last two years the company has been able to span 400 kV cable over about 500 km, including the Juno Gromis project it completed with Eskom in South Africa.
Power Line Africa can develop key solutions in-house, and with certification from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) the company can compete at the continental level, he says.
Martin Wucher, who was involved in the company's housing development in Osona, pointed out that various generations, ethnic groups and different individuals are involved in Power Line Africa. "You have done away with the race card and replaced it with the scorecard," he said. "It has grown from a one-man operation to a company making waves across Africa and worldwide."
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