Electricity + Control April 2015

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89 km 400 kV transmission line – great achievement
Amajor milestone for the CONCO group is the three-year construc-
tion of a 400 kV, 89 kilometre long transmission line for Eskom,
stretching from Eros substation near Harding in KwaZulu-Natal,
towards Vuyani substation in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. This
major project was completed by CONCO and officially handed
over to Eskom last year. Commenting on the success of the pro-
ject, Sugan Naidoo (Eskom project engineer) says, “The CONCO
relationship with Eskom was professionally handled with Eskom's
requirements being met in terms of delivering the project accord-
ing to specifications.The contract management was executed with
excellence.The handover was well received by Eskom for the first
section of transmission line being built in the formerTranskei area
which is now part of the Eastern Cape,” said Naidoo. “CONCO built
89 kilometres of the 167 kilometre 400 kV line and considering this
was CONCO's first 400 kV line construction project, its successful
completion was a great achievement by the efforts of the project
team and site workers.”
CONCO project engineer, Joseph Mahlangu says, “Effective
stakeholder communication and project control integration which
encompassed communication planning, applying best practised
systems and controls, work structure, scheduling, reporting and
adhering to the project plan, were key elements to the project's suc-
cess.”This is the first 400 kV line in the formerTranskei area enabling
a higher power transfer capability in the area. “400 kV Lines transmit
bulk power to feed a large number of customers and can power
up a town,” says Naidoo. “When the line is placed in commercial
operation, the current power shortfall in the Mthatha area and sur-
rounding towns will be relieved and will strengthen the network
by supplying sufficient capacity to the area for economic growth.”
Approximately 400 people worked on the project over a three-year
period. During that time, over 200 temporary employment oppor-
tunities were created in the local villages. CONCO also donated
200 desks, 100 chairs, a microscope and a projector, to Dudumeni
High School in Flagstaff.
“The Eros/ Vuyani project is a milestone for the CONCO group,”
says Mahlangu. “It's the first 400kV project executed by CONCO
and we have proved our ability to project manage, engineer and
construct a transmission line of this dimension. We completed it
on time, within budget and to the highest quality.”
Enquiries: Joseph Mahlangu.Tel. 011 805 4281 or email
Proper integration of test joints in external thermal insulation composite systems
The relevant technical processing guidelines for insulation materi-
als must be observed for the thermal insulation of existing or new
buildings with external thermal insulation composite systems (ET-
ICS). This also impacts the integration of windows, doors and all
components leading through the composite system. In addition,
these guidelines are relevant for lightning protection components.
Lightning protection systems, in conjunction with an external ther-
mal insulation composite system, pose challenges for designers and
installers, particularly with regard to the installation and integration
of test joints for these systems. The test joint products previously
available on the market were often installed on the roof level or in
flush-mounted boxes, exposing them to increased pollution. The
expandable test joint box for external thermal insulation composite
systems from DEHN is an innovative product for designers and
installers which allows for flexible and proper installation.
The telescopic test joint box can be gradually adjusted for insula-
tion material thicknesses between 90 and 140 mm and can therefore
be used for common insulation material thicknesses. An additional
spacer must be used for insulationmaterial thicknesses between 140
and 320 mm.The spacer has a Styrofoam core to prevent thermal
bridges and can be shortened from 200 to 50 mm in 10 mm interval
steps.The down and earthing conductor can be easily led into the
box, and there is sufficient space for installing a clamp.Thanks to
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tion systems can be
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means of measuring
callipers. The proper
installation is finished
by mounting a stable
and aesthetically ap-
pealing stainless steel
cover, which protects
the test joint from
rain.
A UV and weath-
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exerts sufficient pres-
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Enquiries: Alexis Barwise.Tel. 011 704 1487 or email alexis.barwise@
dehn-africa.com
ELECTRICAL PROTECTION + SAFETY
CONCO chief executive officer, David van Zyl,
hands over a plaque to Eskom executive projects
manager, Bob Naraghi, at the official handover.
25 April ‘15 Electricity+Control