A new electricity switching station to the tune of R145 million that is currently being built in Morgen Gronde in Brackenfell is nearing completion to boost electricity supply in the area.
Expected to be completed by December this year, it will also enable the currently constrained networks in the surrounding Bellville and Oakdale areas to be upgraded.
The Morgen Gronde electricity switching station in the Brackengate Business Park is a 132kV station built in close proximity to the Eskom electricity substation in the area.
On a visit to the site last week the City’s Mayco member for energy Beverley van Reenen said the switching station will assist in enabling reliable supply to residents, businesses and a number of large power users in Brackenfell.
“Our teams and contractors commenced with construction on site in early 2021 and we are pleased to see this switching station nearing completion . . . (It) will provide reliable and adequate electricity supply and services to residents and businesses across the metro and invest into the electricity needs of a growing metro,” she said.
Electricity infrastructure
In February this year the City launched a record R120 billion infrastructure portfolio of which according to Van Reenen, about R1 billion will be spent on electricity infrastructure per year between now and 2028.
“Almost 60% of this outlay is earmarked to expand and strengthen our grid and medium voltage infrastructure,” said Van Reenen.
Chair of Subcouncil 2 Marian Nieuwoudt says the project was made possible by a partnership between the City and investors in the local industrial areas.
“The infrastructure of the electricity grid will reinforce electricity supply to the area and is a big impetus for future investment and job creation in the area,” Niewoudt said to TygerBurger on Monday.
Economic growth
Nieuwoudt thanked all role players for their input into the Ward 6 planning over the years that made the facilitation of this investment possible.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis told TygerBurger that the switching station is a critical piece of infrastructure to position the surrounding areas for economic growth. “It forms part of our infrastructure portfolio over the next 10 years, with Cape Town set to spend more on infrastructure than Johannesburg and Durban combined in the medium term,” he says.
