Around 750 loads of wind turbine component sections are expected to be delivered to the Loeriesfontein and Khobab wind farms, near Calvinia, in the Northern Cape, between January 12 and September.

The components are being transported from the Port of Ngqura, outside of Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape, with the 53-m-long wind turbine blades, tower sections, nacelles and hubs for the combined 122 wind turbines being transported on the N10 through Uitenhage, Graaff-Reinet, Beaufort West, Three Sisters and Carnarvon onto Loeriesfontein.

“The blades, towers, hubs and nacelles are transported a distance of around 1 158 km and take around three days, travelling at maximum speed of 50 km/h to 70 km/h,” explained Khobab wind farm project manager Kevin Foster.

Transportation is prohibited at night, during the school holiday period, on public holidays, during festivals or other special events. In Graaff-Reinet and Beaufort West, transportation will be avoided during peak traffic hours, as far as possible.

Travel schedules are provided on the wind farms’ project websites to assist commuters.

Foster noted that while every effort was being made to reduce traffic disruptions, he urged road users to exercise extra caution when close to the abnormal loads and to obey all traffic management instructions. “Extra care should be taken if passing the vehicles as the total length is up to 57.5 m.”

Khobab and Loeriesfontein wind farms, which together span 6 653 ha, will produce a combined 280 MW. 

Transportation of the various wind turbine components started on April 18, 2016, and, to date, about 500 loads have been delivered to site.

The wind farms are owned by a consortium comprising Lekela Power, the Khobab Community Trust, the Loeriesfontein Community Trust, Thebe Investment Corporation, Old Mutual’s Ideas Managed Fund, Futuregrowth Asset Management and Genesis Eco-Energy, in partnership with Lereko Metier Sustainable Capital.

Both wind farms are expected to be operational in late 2017.