Transformers, Substations + The Grid

Hitachi Energy has announced a significant expansion of its global manufacturing, R&D and engineering capacity to meet soaring demand for transformers, advanced grid technologies and digital solutions as the world prepares for exponential growth in AI data centres. The company’s multi-year investment programme of over USD 6 billion is among the largest in the power-grid sector and underscores its mission to inspire the next era of sustainable energy.

LH Marthinusen (LHM), a division of ACTOM and one of the largest global operations offering a comprehensive suite of on- and off-site electro-mechanical repair and manufacturing services, is completing the manufacture of two 30 MVA transformers for a mining house in Botswana. 

With the cage size in the shaft being one of the defining factors for this project to supply seventeen mini substations to an underground copper mine in Zambia, Trafo Power Solutions designed the mini substations so they can be easily transported to their application positions and they are equipped with effective cooling for optimal performance. The company manufactured the mini substations to order.

Consider a familiar scenario. A multi-million-rand mine modernisation project was on schedule: haul roads graded, crushers installed, and processing plant foundations poured. But the substation construction hit a bottleneck. Coordination gaps, procurement delays, and safety issues caused setbacks. The weather didn’t help either. What was meant to happen last week became next month’s problem. Equipment remained unpowered, commissioning schedules slipped, and temporary measures put a strain on budgets.

Namibia’s power utility, NamPower, has officially commissioned the Sekelduin 132/66/33 kV Substation near Swakopmund, reportedly Africa’s first fully digital substation.