GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality’s new Thembalethu substation, a R90m investment in electricity infrastructure, has received national recognition after winning the AMEU Top Performing Municipal Project Award.
The 40MVA facility was officially opened on 23 October and is expected to improve electricity supply reliability while providing additional capacity for the area’s growing residential and economic needs.
The construction was completed over the last five years, contributing to local employment opportunities, according to the municipality.
The Department of Electricity and Energy grant-funded R48m of the total cost of R90m.
The project earned George Municipality the AMEU Top Performing Municipal Project Award at the 72nd Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities (AMEU) Annual Convention, held in Polokwane from 4 to 7 October.
The need for a 66kV substation in Thembalethu was identified during the master planning that was done for Thembalethu.
It is the final component in establishing a reliable 66kV ring-feed system to the Thembalethu area and providing 20MVA firm capacity via 2 x 20MVA 66/11kV power transformers and associated electrical switchgear and control systems.
According to Michael Rhode, director of the municipality's Electrotechnical Engineering Services, the infrastructure will enhance the municipality’s ability to manage demand across the network.
"The substation closes the much-needed 66kv ring circuit for George and brings redundancy when the network is under stress. It will reduce the load on neighbouring substations in Pacaltsdorp and George Industria, helping to preserve available capacity and provide alternative supply options during system faults."
The substation incorporates modern protection, control and communication technology. A fibre-optic cabling network supports remote monitoring, security surveillance and substation control.
The project team and municipal leadership proudly display the AMEU Top Performing Municipal Project Award. Joubert Theart (technical specialist project management, Zutari) receives the award from Mayor Browen Johnson. Photo: Supplied
Officially opening the facility, George Mayor Browen Johnson said sometimes people may feel that not enough is happening in their communities.
"I want residents to know that important work is taking place, including investments in infrastructure that may not always be visible but make a real difference to service delivery. This substation is one example of that commitment in action.
“George is growing, and we need to make sure our infrastructure keeps pace with that growth. We are working to strengthen services across our municipal area, including in Thembalethu, so that our communities are better prepared for future development and residents’ needs."
Johnson congratulated the Electrotechnical Services team on the award. "It recognises the technical expertise, dedication and hard work that went into delivering this project. I thank our service providers and everyone who contributed to bringing it to completion."
The AMEU award recognises the technical expertise and engineering capabilities demonstrated in delivering this complex bulk infrastructure project.
Touring the facility. Photo: Supplied
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