Residents in and around Ward 84 can expect refurbishments of the Blesbok 11kV Secondary Substation to begin on November 10 until May 2026, according to MMC for Utility Services, Frans Boshielo.

Boshielo said this follows growing demand for reliable and stable electricity. The supply from this substation has become unstable and unreliable.

Located in the Queenswood area, Region 3, the substation serves as a template for the Energy and Electricity Business Unit’s mandate of upgrading the electricity infrastructure across all seven regions.

The refurbishments entail replacement of the inefficient switchgear with the latest technology, installation of protection and control systems, lighting improvements for security purposes and general substation facility refurbishment.

Boshielo said a service provider has been appointed.

“As with many other capital projects, the Blesbok Substation refurbishment project has incorporated local benefit, including the employment of local people and subcontracting of the local service providers,” Boshielo said.

He said the need for the upgrades is mainly due to the obsolete, fragile, inefficient and operationally unreliable switchgear.

“It is envisaged that once refurbished, the substation will offer significant benefits, largely in the form of a stable and reliable electricity supply. The substation will provide operational flexibility in that, should an electrical fault occur in one portion of the network, only that specific portion of the network will be affected, whereas the remaining part of the network will remain operational,” he explained.

Several areas reportedly will benefit directly from these upgrades, including Queenswood, Koedespoort Industrial and Elandsfontein.

The MMC is hopeful that a stable and reliable electrical network will also stimulate local economic development.

Ward 84 Councillor Anru Meyer expressed his gratitude for the work to be done on social media and said he hoped it would put an end to common trips that have plagued his ward this year.

“The substation will be completely refurbished with modern equipment to stabilise and protect our electricity grid. New technology, including off-site monitoring systems, will be installed to track load and prevent unnecessary trips as far as possible. I’m looking forward to seeing the Blesbok Substation refurbishment progress over the next few months. Once complete, it should resolve more than half of our local grid instability issues,” Meyer posted.

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