77-year-old power cable is unreliable – Kriek
“Upgrading to modern underground cable systems would significantly reduce the risk of power outages."
Kempton Park councillor Jean Kriek has said the 66KV oil-filled cable, which supplies electricity to large parts of Kempton Park, is unreliable.
He said the network, which frequently causes power outages in Kempton Park, should urgently be replaced by a modern power grid.
“The outdated network recently caused a power outage in Birchleigh, which lasted 52 hours. The outage was because of multiple high-voltage cable failures,” he said.
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Kriek added that the network, which was installed 77 years ago, is becoming increasingly unstable, especially with the growing electricity demand.
“According to statistics, Birchleigh experienced 15 power outages that lasted eight hours on average over the last six months. The recent outage of 52 hours was one of the longest and the most disruptive to date.
“Approximately 5 000 households and 700 businesses were affected by it.”
Kriek proposed what he believes to be an ideal long-term solution to this ongoing problem.
“Replace the outdated oil-filled cable network with modern alternatives. The process was initiated during the multi-party government but the process stagnated,” he said.
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Another solution proposed was the use of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cables that are known for their durability, efficiency and resistance to high temperatures. They offer a reliable alternative to oil-filled cables in addition to having a longer life expectancy.
“Upgrading to modern underground cable systems would significantly reduce the risk of power outages caused by external factors, such as weather conditions and physical damage.
“Implementing smart grid technology could improve the monitoring and management of the electricity network, allowing for faster identification and resolution of issues.
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“Urgent action is needed to prevent further disruption, and to promote the community’s growth and wellbeing,” he said.
The Kempton Express sent an inquiry for comment to the CoE on July 31, requesting comment by August 5.
By the time of going to print, no comment was received.
