Lightning blamed for north substation fire
Technicians are however still investigating if the lighting experienced on September 20, during bad weather conditions which had been hovering Tshwane were a definite cause.
A north of Pretoria substation under refurbishment has burst into flames.
Technicians are however still investigating if lightning caused the fire at this substation near the Rooiwal power station.
*Power outage*
Good day all.
We have not received a response from the electrical department regarding all the outages reported after last night’s storm.I have requested an update on the Regional Head’s communication portal as well.
Regards,
𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗹𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗮… pic.twitter.com/kIf4D5H5UN— SA REPORTS (@MARIUSBROODRYK) September 20, 2023
Tshwane emergency services spokesperson Deputy Chief Charles Mabaso said firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 22:00 and the fire was subsequently put out.
He said the city was still assessing the full scale of the damage.
The 132/11kV Pyramid substation feeds Rooiwal, Ondersterpoort, Grootvlei West and East, Vastfontein and surrounds and last May, Tshwane invested R25 million in its refurbishment.
The work included constructing new control and switchgear buildings to house the replacement equipment destroyed by a fire in October 2019, and further installing 109 cable for the new 11kV to 49 switchgear panels.
The refurbishment was expected to be completed during the 2024/25 financial year, depending on funding.
Work has begun at the Pyramid and Kentron Substations where we expect to complete both projects during the 2024/25 financial year. In Region 5, the City has also submitted an application to Eskom for the planned new Refilwe Substation.#TshwaneSoCA2023#MayorBrink
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) May 18, 2023
Metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba blamed the heavy storm that ravaged areas in Tshwane and damaged everything in its path for the fire.
He said an investigation indicated the substation was struck by lightning.
“In the early hours of September 20, Tshwane experienced unprecedented storms in the northern parts of the city.
“This storm has caused massive destruction to households in Hammanskraal and surrounding areas and, as a result of lightning, the temporary Pyramid substation, which was built next to the Rooiwal power station, caught fire, burning the transformer, including the container.”
Boakaba said the fire spread into the high-tension yard, however the Tshwane emergency services responded swiftly and managed to extinguish the fire before too much damage was caused.
He said power supply to Rooiwal power station had been restored but the Rooiwal waste treatment plant and the farming communities supplied by the substation were still without power.
Tshwane MMC for utilities Themba Fosi said a temporary solution was needed to power up the farming communities.
The substation was earmarked for refurbishment to mitigate health concerns, economic losses and security risks to residents as businesses could not operate.
ActionSA said the health concerns were that the sewer plant could not process chemicals and the sewage pumped into the Apies River caused an awful smell downstream and drastic drop in local property values.
@Action4SA candidate working with our Councillors to table a motion to expedite the refurbishment of Pyramid Substation. https://t.co/27TG7U6lAG pic.twitter.com/rjzYm9QE92
— Michael Beaumont (@ME_Beaumont) April 26, 2022
#TshwaneBudget2023: R191 million to be invested for refurbish the Mooikloof 132 kV/11 kV Substation, refurbish the Pyramid 132 kV/11 kV Substation, refurbish Rosslyn Substation.
— City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) May 24, 2023
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