South Africa power utility Eskom, has announced plans to add about 6 500 km of high-voltage transmission lines and 46 000 MVA of transformer capacity by 2028. This is in line with its Transmission Development Plan (TDP), for the period from 2019 to 2028.
Eskom’s transmission acting group Executive, Willy Majola confirmed the reports and said TDP has recorded a significant progress since the last public forum in 2017, by adding 717km of lines and 2,500MVA of transformation capacity to the national grid from the Medupi and Kusile power stations earlier this year.
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Independent power producer projects
The TDP plan also stated that Eskom plans to include independent power producer (IPP) projects in its transmission network as well as increase cross-border transmission lines to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho.
Eskom now generates 52 GW of power, comprising about 90% conventional power generation out of which 73% is coal- fired, 7% renewables and around 2% imports. The investment in additional transmission infrastructure along with the planned increases in conventional energy generation is expected to boost access to electricity for more South Africans.
The power utility firm by 2028 expects to generate a total of 74 GW, comprising about 74% conventional generation out of which 56% is coal-fired, 23% renewable energy and 2% imports.
Some of TDP’ key development plans for the plans involves transmission line strengthening between Gromis, Nama and Aggeneys substations, and expansion of transformer capacity at the Helios substation ,all located in the Northern Cape.Transmission lines will also be added between Upington and Aries substations which will expand the corridor IPP generation.
