Trans Africa Projects (TAP) project manages the construction of Eskom Transmission Lines across South Africa.  NCC Environmental Services provides Environmental Control Officers (ECO), Environmental Officers (EO), Environmental Managers (EM) and environmental permitting advice for the various sections of Transmission Lines and their associated sub-substations.

We provide environmental staff and services to the following related projects across South Africa:

Dedisa - Grassridge 400kV Transmission Line and Dedisa - Poseidon 400kV Deviation

The Dedisa/Grassridge – Poseidon 400kV Transmission Line is situated in the Eastern Cape, starting at the Grassridge Substation near Coega and spanning to the Poseidon Substation near Cookhouse.  This line is approximately 126km in length.  The line construction is complete with only rehabilitation still to be completed.  NCC provides an ECO to monitor compliance of this project.

Mercury - Zeus 765kV Transmission Line

The Mercury – Zeus 765kV Transmission Line runs from Standerton in Mpumalanga towards the Atlas Substation in Gauteng and Deneysville in the Free State.  NCC provides two ECOs to monitor compliance of this project.

Zeus 400kV Bypass and 765kV expansions

The Zeus Substation expansion involves the installation of 765kV transformers and reactors as well as the construction of a 28ha 765kV terrace and the deviation of the current 400kV transmission lines to allow space for the 765kV substation footprint.  NCC provides an ECO to monitor compliance of this project.

Medupi - Spitskop 400kV Transmission Line and Medupi - Dinaledi 400kV Transmission Line and Spitskop & Dinaledi Substation Upgrades

This project falls within the Limpopo and North-West Provinces between the towns of Lephalale, Northham and Rustenburg/Brits.  Construction comprises three 400kV transmission lines of approximately 350km between (still to be constructed) Medupi Substation near Lephalale, Spitskop Substation near Northam and Dinaledi Substation near Brits.  NCC provides an ECO and four Environmental Managers to monitor compliance of this project.

Majuba - Umfolozi 765kV Transmission Line

The Majuba – Umfolozi 765kV Transmission Line runs from Majupa Power Station, near Volksrust, to the Umfolozi Substation outside Vryheid in KZN.  Section A of the line is complete with section B almost complete, with rehabilitation to still be implemented.  NCC provides an ECO to monitor compliance of this project.

Sterrekus (Omega) 765 kV Substation

The Sterrekus 765kV Substation near Atlantis will be connected to new 765kV transmission lines from the north once they are completed.  The anticipated completion date for this project is March 2012.  NCC provides an ECO to monitor compliance of this project.

Duvha - Leseding 400kV Transmission Line

The Duvha-Leseding 400kV Transmission Line starts at the Duvha Power Station near Witbank and runs north to Leseding Substation, 150km from Polokwane.  Construction activities are currently entering the last 25km of the line.  The anticipated completion has been extended to March 2011.  NCC provides an ECO to monitor compliance of this project.

Upgrade of Perseus Substation

A new 765kV yard at the Perseus Substation is being constructed, comprising three transformers and six reactors.  The site is approximately 23ha in size and when completed will receive power from the new Mercury-Perseus Transmission Line and transmit power to the Hydra Substation in De Aar.  NCC provides an ECO to monitor compliance of this project.

Upgrade of Alpha and Beta Substations

Installation of two 765kV Series Capacitor Banks at the Beta and Alpha Substations. These 765kV series capacitor banks are anticipated to reduce the loss of electricity caused by static fields on the existing 765kV transmission lines spanning between Alpha and Beta Substations. The Alpha project is half the size of the Beta project as it only services one transmission line, the new Mercury-Perseus Transmission Line.  NCC provides an ECO to monitor compliance of this project.

Hydra Perseus 765kV Transmission Line - Section A & Section B

Section A of the Hydra Perseus 765kV Transmission Line is 150-200km in length and spans between Dealsville and Luckoff in the Free State. Section A consists of 325 tower positions and will traverse two rivers.  The construction phase began in May 2010 and foundations are in place for the first 30 tower positions.  NCC provides two ECOs to monitor compliance of this project.

Komati Ash Dam Deviation Line

The Komati Ash Line Deviation project entails diverting an 88kV and a 275kV transmission line.  This is to make way for the building of an ash dam at the Komati Power Station in Mpumulanga.  This forms part of Eskom’s “Return to Service” project whereby they reinstate old electrical infrastructure.  NCC provides an ECO to monitor compliance of this project.