Gauteng-based structural steel product manufacturer Structa Group has undertaken three projects for State-owned power utility Eskom’s coal-fired Medupi power station, in Limpopo.
Structa chairperson Piet Coetzer says the company is pleased to assist Eskom with products and services that contribute to powering South Africa.
Through its subsidiaries, Structa Technology, CIS Engineering and Turnmill Proquip Engineering, Structa Group is fabricating the substation steelwork and has constructed the exhaust steam ducting and the firewater tank.
The substation steelwork project costs more than R7-million and, once completed, CIS Engineering will have supplied, assembled and erected 435 t of galvanised structural steel, comprising angle steel and beam components, for the high-voltage yard at Medupi.
The substation is constructed in two phases. Phase 1 of the substation steelwork began in July 2011 and was completed in October 2011. It consisted of the manufacture, delivery, assembly and erection of 291 t of galvanised steel.
Phase 2, which is ongoing, began in May last year and con- sists of the manufacturing, delivery, assembly and erection of 144 t of galvanised steel.
Meanwhile, total contract value for the exhaust steam-ducting project is about R100-million and consists of tubular duct sections of up to 6 m in diameter and plate thicknesses of up to 25 mm. The ducting leads from the plant’s turbine outlet to the steam condenser.
Turnmill Proquip GM Carel Pienaar tells Engineering News that the project began in September 2010 and was completed in February.
Turnmill Proquip undertook the fabrication and painting of 2 500 t of ducting for the project.
Structa Technology undertook the R4-million firewater-tank project for Medupi in January 2011 and completed the supply, delivery and installation of the 4.8-m-high and 22.8-m-wide tank in June 2012.
The scope of the company’s work included the design, manu- facturing, material selection, corrosion protection, supply, delivery and erection of the tank.
The tank is divided into two compartments, each with the capa- city to hold more than two-million litres of water, and consists of 1 092 tank plates and 35 000 M16 fasteners.
Eskom and engineering company Lesedi Nuclear Services tested the tank in July 2012 for faulty pipe connections and leaks once each tank compartment had been filled. The tank was handed over on completion in the same month.
The tank panels were fabricated at the Structa Technology factory, in Meyerton, Gauteng, using a 1 300 t press and automated punching facilities.
Structa Group also hopes to offer Eskom the 200/240 range of steel utility poles.The fitted utility poles, with a patented oval shape, are suitable for 11 kV to 66 kV distribution circuits.
The poles are part of the Structa Electrotower range and were developed for distributing electrical and telecommunications services in rural and township areas, where wooden poles are typically used.