ACTOM High Voltage Equipment is manufacturing 400 kV and 132 kV high voltage primary equipment for the Ummbila Emoyeni wind farm project, located between Bethal and Morgenzon, in Mpumalanga.
Casbah Zwane, Divisional CEO, ACTOM High Voltage Equipment.
Once completed, the Ummbila Emoyeni 900 MW hybrid renewable energy facility will be the largest of its kind in South Africa. Work is currently in progress on phase 1 of the project, which will see 155 MW commissioned by late 2025 or early 2026.
The project is being developed by Seriti Green, the climate-change-mitigating subsidiary of coal mining company, Seriti Resources. The wind farm forms part of an agreement that will see clean power wheeled through the national grid and will help Seriti Resources meet its carbon neutrality goals.
ACTOM High Voltage Equipment Divisional CEO, Casbah Zwane, says the company is supplying high voltage circuit breakers, disconnectors, instrument transformers, and line traps to the wind farm.
Grid connection
“We are on track with the manufacturing of the equipment for phase 1 of the project, which is due for delivery in Q2 2025. Our scope of work entails the supply of high voltage equipment that will be used for the grid connection of the wind farm. This is for both the Eskom Main Transmission Substation for the grid connection, and the Eskom Distribution Substation, which is used for switching purposes. We are supplying most of the outdoor transmission, and distribution equipment,” says Zwane.
Once the project is complete, Seriti Resources will use 75% of the wind farm’s output power to supply its coal mines. The company has yet to decide how the remaining 25% will be used. It is understood, however, that this amount of electricity could power up to about 265 000 South African households. By enabling a switch to renewables, the project is also set to significantly cut Seriti Resources’ carbon footprint.
“At ACTOM, we are very proud to be associated with this project, given its environmental significance and potential positive impact on climate change. We recognise it as an important project in South Africa’s clean energy transition,” says Zwane.
He notes that with the equipment ACTOM is supplying to the wind farm project, it can demonstrate its capabilities to the South African market and beyond the country’s borders.
Engineering and technical skills
“The project enables ACTOM to showcase its capabilities in engineering and technical skills to global markets, and to demonstrate that we have the means and resources to supply projects of this scale. I expect it will open new opportunities for us going forward,” says Zwane.
“We look forward to supporting Seriti and its stakeholders through the phases of the project as it ramps up to 900 MW. We are pleased to be part of this value chain and contribute to this project that supports local manufacturing and supply.”
Zwane adds that beyond its current supply contract ACTOM will provide after-sales and technical support for the wind farm. It has all the necessary skills and components in-country and readily available to provide ongoing support.
For more information visit: www.actom.co.za