Approximately 750 loads of wind turbine component sections are anticipated to be delivered to the Loeriesfontein and Khobab wind farms, near Calvinia, in the Northern Cape, between January 12 and September.
The components are being conveyed from the Port of Ngqura, outside of Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape, with the 53-m-long wind turbine blades, tower sections, nacelles and hubs for the collective 122 wind turbines being transported on the N10 via Uitenhage, Graaff-Reinet, Beaufort West, Three Sisters and Carnarvon onto Loeriesfontein.
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“The blades, hubs, towers and nacelles are transported a distance of about 1 158 km and will take roughly three days, travelling at maximum speed of 50 km/h to 70 km/h,” stated Khobab wind farm project manager Mr. Kevin Foster.
Transportation is forbidden at night, during the school holiday period, on public holidays, during festivals or other special events. In Graaff-Reinet and Beaufort West, travelling will be avoided during peak traffic hours, as far as possible.
Travel schedules are present on the wind farm’s project websites to help commuters.
Foster stated that while every attempt was being made to lessen traffic disruptions, he urged road users to exercise extra vigilance when near the unusual loads and to mind all traffic management directives. “Extra care should be taken if passing the vehicles as the total length is up to 57.5 m.”
Khobab and Loeriesfontein wind farms, which together cover 6 653 ha, will generate a collective 280 MW.
Transportation of the different wind turbine components began on April 18, 2016, and, presently, around 500 loads have been delivered to site.
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The wind farms are owned by a conglomerate comprising of Lekela Power, the Khobab Community Trust, the Old Mutual’s Ideas Managed Fund, Loeriesfontein Community Trust, FutureGrowth Asset Management ,Thebe Investment Corporation and Genesis Eco-Energy in partnership with Lereko Metier Sustainable Capital Both wind farms are expected to be operational in late 2017.
