New 66KV Substation Under Way for Gansbaai

Construction of a new electrical substation in Gansbaai will begin June 2022. This is the largest electrical project ever undertaken in the history of Overstrand Municipality. 

The 66kV indoor substation will be located in Birkenhead, just outside the town of Gansbaai towards the Danger Point Lighthouse.

Coming at a cost of R64.6 million for the construction work and a R7.4 million Eskom connection charge, the new 66/11kV municipal substation will relieve a lot of strain on the existing substation and will provide adequate capacity for future developments in the area.

The Birkenhead 66/11kV substation project will see the establishment of a new 66kV Eskom supply point. This will be enabled by the installation of a new 66kV overhead steel monopole power line from the Eskom metering point to a newly built 66kV indoor substation with 20MVA transformer. The project will be completed with the reconfiguration and strengthening of the existing 11kV network.

Over the past few years, the Gansbaai area has seen a steady growth in the maximum electricity demand. As it is, approved developments including expansions by existing large electricity customers, indicate a higher need and steeper increase in electricity needs.

A single Eskom supply to the Gansbaai Main intake substation and existing network configuration currently limits the electricity distribution capacity in the area. A recommendation was made to consider the redistribution of existing and future loads to a second supply point. This will ensure sufficient capacity for growth in the area and prevent the necessity for upgrades to the Gansbaai Main Substation for the foreseeable future.

It was further recommended that the second supply point be taken at the higher intake voltage of 66kV to enable distribution closer to the envisaged future load centre, before being stepped down to 11kV. (A higher intake voltage will also enable the Municipality to purchase electricity at a reduced energy tariff, resulting in a significant saving on it’s electricity account from Eskom).

The new 66kV Birkenhead substation was designed by iX Engineers and MLB Architecture. The electrical engineering and installation company, Adenco Construction, will manage and implement the construction and installation of the various components. 

Part of the project requirements include that 30% of the construction value be subcontracted to Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs) and Exempt Micro Enterprises (EMEs) that are registered on the Central Supplier Database which will aid in skills development and the use of local labour. Adenco will also participate in the social responsibility (community investment) initiative of the Overstrand Municipality by assisting Gansbaai Academia with the establishment of a computer resource centre to the value of R50 000.

The Birkenhead Substation is jointly funded by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and Overstrand Municipality.

The Birkenhead Substation is set to be completed by mid-2024.