After three years of construction, 6 600 volts of electricity will flow from the newly upgraded and enlarged Condale Substation to the homes and businesses of Krugersdorp.
“As Krugersdorp’s population increases, its power demand increases,” Mogale City’s head of the electrical department and coordinator of the substation upgrade, Frikkie Erasmus, said.
“Thanks to the proper management from both councillors Barry Friedman and David Letsie and superintendent Ernest Weppenaar, we managed to complete the substation, a set of equipment reducing the high voltage of electrical power transmission to that suitable for supply to consumers, on time and on the R137 million budget.”
Roshqott Energy Projects were the main contracted company who partnered with Mogale City. Jorge Marques, the company’s marketing manager and alumnus of Krugersdorp High School, said the company proudly plowed back into the community by employing 50 residents permanently, manufacturing 90 percent of the products locally, donating R100 000 to The Bethany House Trust and will also continue to provide electrical services in Mogale City.
With the attendance of Executive Mayor Koketso Calvin Seerane and members of the mayoral committee, Frikkie highlighted the big challenge that all municipalities in South Africa currently faces – energy capacity management.
“With the addition of two malls, a casino, residential units and businesses, the 53-year-old substation was stretching its capacity and resources to provide electricity for the influx of people.”
If Mogale City did not upgrade the substation, the town’s power supply could have been at risk.
“We were upgrading equipment older than 50 years with a lifespan of only 30 years.”
Seerane adds that metropolitan municipal leaders were in awe of the project, saying a small municipality like Mogale City normally does not attempt such big projects.
“It had to be done. So we did it,” he said.
Whether Krugersdorp’s load shedding will be affected, Frikkie said improved infrastructure like this will help the town head towards selective load shedding where the entire Mogale City’s power does not need to be cut at once.
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