ENVIRONMENT
• A 132 kV substation with high voltage
(HV) yard footprint of approximately
100 m x 100 m,
• Underground cabling between the
project components,
• One new overhead 132 kV power line of
1 km in length, turning into the existing
Hutchinson/Biesiespoort-1 132 kV line,
• Internal access roads (4 m wide and
37 km long) linking the wind turbines
and the infrastructure on the site, and
• Operations and maintenance
building including a storage facility
with a footprint of 40 m x 20 m for
maintenance and storage purposes.
Corporate social
investment
A concerted effort was made to use as
much local resource as possible. A total
of 165 jobs have been created to-date
for locals, and will peak at 200 local jobs
during construction phase.
Environmental impact
consideration
Strict adherence to environmental legisla-
tion is ensured, with a 90% achievement
thus far. Access roads are limited to single
lanes (4 m wide) with passing turnouts
for passing traffic while all excavated rock
is processed on site and used as concrete
aggregates, minimising the amount of
material to be spoiled.
There is dust suppression on all
construction activities and cut fill opera-
tions are balanced to minimise the overall
of fill material.
1. The first foundation preparation with
cable ducting.
2. Access roads are limited to single lanes
(4 m wide) with passing turnouts for
passing traffic – this is a 37 km road.
Health & safety
An exemplary safety performance has been
achieved so far. The site operates within
the required SA Occupational Health and
Safety legislation.
This is complemented by Group Five’s
policies and procedures to ensure that high
safety standards expected of all the group’s
sites are maintained. Here is a snapshot of
the project’s safety statistics:
• 112 782 man hours worked
• Zero Lost Time Incidents (LTIs)
• Zero fatalities
• Disabling Injury Frequency Rate
(DIFR) – 0
Risk management
The blasting under Eskom lines was a
major risk. The contractors engaged during
tender stage with Eskom and followed the
correct procedures which ensured adher-
ence to the correct blasting procedures.
Construction of a railway crossing was
also a risk. Group Five engaged a rail expert
to assist with the procedures, applications
and correct construction methodology.
To ensure that water was available for
construction, the contractor liaised with
the local council of Victoria West to assist
with the supply whenever required and
allow the transport cost.
Noblesfontein is far from major centres
and as such the contractor have had to
allow for additional standby equipment
to mitigate the risk of unforeseen break
downs during major concrete pours.
3. The 38 km cable trench.
4. Bolt cage assembling.
5. Surveying the site that will house 41
wind turbines with a total generating
capacity of 78 MW.
Project information
• Project start date: April 2013
• Project end date: May 2014
• Client: Joint Venture – Group Five Construction and
Iberdrola Engineering & Construction South Africa
• Main contractor: Group Five Civil Engineering
• Consulting engineer: Group Five Engineering and
Construction South Africa
• Project value: R162 800 419 (excluding VAT)
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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
MARCH
2014
