Question NW771 to the Minister of Public Enterprises
27 March 2023 - NW771
Van Zyl, Ms A M to ask the Minister of Public Enterprises
Whether, with reference to his reply to question 4492 on 3 January 2023, (a) he has been informed that have indeed been many outages, recorded on Eskom’s bot, Alfred, with reference numbers from the farmers in the specified areas which records 75 screenshots of the reference numbers whereby faults were logged with Alfred (details furnished); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether, noting the information provided, he will send a team to (a) upgrade the infrastructure in the areas and (b) provide a time frame on the upgrade that will be undertaken; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
According to the information received from Eskom:
(1)(a)
There were adverse weather conditions, storms and lighting in the area since October 2022, which resulted in various faults on that 22kV network. These MV faults included poles and cross-arms being hit by lightning and the failure of insulators.
In January 2023, a decision was taken by Eskom’s Aliwal North Technical Team to patrol that section of the line and conduct a line inspection in order to consolidate the number of defects caused by these storms.
(2)(a) and (b)
After completion of the line patrol and inspections, the following outage and maintenance plan to
upgrade the inline 22kV DOT-1 was put in place:
- 14 – 16 February 2023: Eskom’s Live Work Teams carried out defect clearance on the affected section.
- 28 February 2023: Another update work was carried out on the affected section of the 22kV line by Eskom’s construction teams.
- The outage was successful as Eskom managed to clear 80% of the defects on the accessible areas.
- The continuity of electricity supply in the area has since improved since the work that was executed between 14 – 18 February 2023.
- The plan is to get Eskom’s Live Work and Construction Teams back to clear the rest of the defects.
Remarks: Approved / Not Approved
Jacky Molisane PJ Gordhan, MP
Acting Director-General Minister
Date: Date: