Africa-Press – Namibia. NATIONAL power utility NamPower says the construction of its N$629 million 400kV Auas-Gerus transmission line is progressing well.
NATIONAL power utility NamPower says the construction of its N$629 million 400kV Auas-Gerus transmission line is progressing well.
The line, as announced last August, will connect the Auas substation near Dordabis to the Gerus substation near Otjiwarongo.
NamPower says the line will be completed in the middle of 2023.
Route clearance, which consists of debushing and the clearing of 287km of farmland, has been completed, and the construction of the towers’ foundation is nearing completion, the power utility says.
Some 359 out of 566 transmission towers on the line have been fully constructed.
The appointed contractor, Power Line Africa, has reportedly commenced with stringing, which involves fitting the conductor responsible for the transmission of electrical power between the towers.
The manufacturing and delivery of the transmission towers and conductor materials was a major challenge due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent international lockdowns, hyperinflation and overall materials shortages and delays.
This resulted in a six-month delay in the project.
NamPower says the majority of the N$629 million project’s value has been retained and reinvested in Namibia, with only materials which could not be sourced locally being imported.
Power Line Africa, a Namibian company, currently employs more than 150 Namibians on the project.
The NamPower transmission system and network of 66kV to 400kV overhead lines span a distance of more than 11 700km.
The construction of the Auas-Gerus transmission line is part of NamPower’s investment in expanding its 400kV transmission infrastructure by more than 800km.
The line, as announced last August, will connect the Auas substation near Dordabis to the Gerus substation near Otjiwarongo.
NamPower says the line will be completed in the middle of 2023.
Route clearance, which consists of debushing and the clearing of 287km of farmland, has been completed, and the construction of the towers’ foundation is nearing completion, the power utility says.
Some 359 out of 566 transmission towers on the line have been fully constructed.
The appointed contractor, Power Line Africa, has reportedly commenced with stringing, which involves fitting the conductor responsible for the transmission of electrical power between the towers.
The manufacturing and delivery of the transmission towers and conductor materials was a major challenge due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent international lockdowns, hyperinflation and overall materials shortages and delays.
This resulted in a six-month delay in the project.
NamPower says the majority of the N$629 million project’s value has been retained and reinvested in Namibia, with only materials which could not be sourced locally being imported.
Power Line Africa, a Namibian company, currently employs more than 150 Namibians on the project.
The NamPower transmission system and network of 66kV to 400kV overhead lines span a distance of more than 11 700km.
The construction of the Auas-Gerus transmission line is part of NamPower’s investment in expanding its 400kV transmission infrastructure by more than 800km.
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