During the recent Transmission Development Plan (TDP) Implementation Forum, Eskom, South Africa’s primary electricity utility, shared updates on its strategy to enhance the nation’s transmission infrastructure.
The plan, outlined in the 2022 TDP, aims to bolster the country’s power grid by adding 14,000 km of extra-high-voltage lines, installing 170 transformers, and incorporating 105,865 MVA of transformer capacity over the upcoming decade. Currently, Eskom is actively engaged in 46 expansion projects, with 26 underway, and is poised to deliver 1,632 km of lines and 11,290 MVA of transformation capacity. Half of these projects are in the construction phase, while the remainder are in various stages of procurement. The utility’s ongoing endeavours include 13 construction projects set to yield 1,197 km of transmission lines and 3,290 MVA of transformer capacity, enabling the integration of power from major plants such as Medupi and Kusile, each capable of producing 4,800 MW, as well as the integration of the 267 MW Garob independent power producer at the Kronos substation by 2028. Simultaneously, 13 projects in procurement are expected to deliver 435 km of lines and 8,000 MVA of transformer capacity, primarily focusing on the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces.