Over R30-billion for Gauteng roads
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has invested over R30-billion in the past three years on public infrastructure projects. According to Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi, the investments were to improve freeway and provincial road networks, the Gautrain, the modernisation of Metrorail and the roll-out of bus rapid transit systems in metropolitan municipalities. He said these investments were in addition to investments in social infrastructure projects such as schools, hospitals and clinics. Investing in transport projects is meant to facilitate improved mobility, allow for social inclusion, stimulate economic growth and enable the development of small and emerging contractors, he said. The department has invested over R3-billion in rehabilitation of the road infrastructure along various corridors in the province since 2014. According to Vadi, the department’s allocated budget is R6,8-billion for the current financial year, with R1,9-billion earmarked for transport infrastructure.
Port Elizabeth cold storage facility expanded
The Port Elizabeth cold storage plant in the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is expanding its facility. The R10-million expansion is the second in two years, following a R100-million investment in 2017. The storage facility has increased its capacity of 7500 pallets to some 15 000. The expansion complemented a modern storage facility and accommodated greater volumes for citrus production in the Eastern Cape. Over 100 people are employed at the PE cold storage facility and an additional five permanent jobs and 25 construction jobs were created as a result of the expansion.
Pretoria’s Loftus Park nearing completion
The first phase of Loftus Park, a new mixed-use precinct being developed by Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), Redefine Properties and Abland, is nearing completion. Phase one includes some 34 000 m2 of office space; a gym; open-air piazza with restaurants and retail. A 152-room hotel by Marriott will also debut at the site. The precinct is close to the Loftus Versfeld stadium. With the Gautrain bus stop adjacent to the precinct, Loftus Park connects seamlessly to Centurion, Sandton, Rosebank and OR Tambo International Airport via Hatfield. The precinct will be accredited as a 4-Star Green Star Building. Phase Two, which will add another 7600 m2 to the development, will include of a hospital and 13 000 m2 of office space.
Koeberg launches desalination plant
The Koeberg nuclear power station in the Western Cape has launched a mobile groundwater desalination plant to supply the station with water. This move eases the pressure on the City of Cape Town’s water supply. According to Koeberg power station manager Velaphi Ntuli, the plant is part of the utility’s three-pronged water management strategy which includes reducing Koeberg’s water usage, on-site water storage and finding alternative water supplies. The power station has saved some 115 000 kl of water since June last year. The power station has an installed capacity of 1860 MW, which provides 50% of the Western Cape’s and approximately 5,6% of South Africa’s energy needs. It has operated safely and efficiently for 33 years. Koeberg saves 22-billion l of fresh water per year as its condensers are cooled by sea water.
Cape Town’s first large-scale PVT facility
Park Inn by Radisson’s hotel, Cape Town Foreshore and hybrid solar company Solarus have installed Cape Town central business district’s first large-scale commercial hybrid photovoltaic and thermal (PVT) project. The hotel has installed 30 power collectors, which combine thermal and photovoltaic generation. The installation on the hotel’s rooftop will produce an average 1050 kWh per week. The installation also saves 79 000 l of water per year as every kWh generated by Eskom uses 1,45 l of water to produce.
Sasol Group Technology builds fine ash dam
SNC-Lavalin was awarded a contract for the fine ash dam project at Secunda for Sasol Group Technology. The scope of work for this project includes the structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and piping construction services for the new facility, which will include the installation of approximately 15 km of piping; 370 tonnes of steel, as well as mechanical and electrical equipment. The project will support the life extension of the Sasol Secunda operations facilities. It will take the ash generated by the Secunda operations to the new Ash Dam 6 as Fine Ash Dam 5 is decommissioned. The construction of the project will be completed in a number of phases. This award is part of the first phase, with an average team size of 125 people. Fine Ash Dam 6 will be constructed in accordance with the latest environmental requirements, with the final phase being completed in 2021.
100 MW solar thermal project for Northern Cape
A consortium led by SolarReserve and International Company for Power and Water (ACWA Power) has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Eskom for the Redstone solar thermal power project. This forms part of the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). The 100 W power station with 12 hours of energy storage will be able to deliver a stable supply of clean electricity to the equivalent of more than 200 000 South African homes each year. The Redstone project will be located near Postmasburg in the Northern Cape Province, adjacent to the 75 MW Lesedi and 96 MW Jasper photovoltaic solar power projects developed by SolarReserve. The project will use SolarReserve’s ThermaVault technology solar thermal technology with integrated molten salt energy storage. The power station will deliver 100 MW of clean energy to the grid.
