Company Announcement - Trans-Africa Projects (Pty) Ltd (TAP), Fluor’s joint venture company with ESKOM, recently played a pivotal role in the emergency repair operations in Mozambique following floods caused by torrential rains earlier this year. More than 100 people were killed and 150 000 displaced after the floods, some of the heaviest on record, left the northern half of the country without power for five weeks.
According to TAP’s managing director, Barrie Badenhorst, the floods knocked down Mozambique’s main national 220kV transmission line north of Qulemane-Mocuba. “Mozambique’s power utility repaired the line with TAP’s assistance. TAP assisted the operation by providing specialized helicopter services,” says Badenhorst. At least ten structures were damaged and had to be repaired. It was however impossible to reach the damaged towers by road as the 600m wide river was still flooded. A helicopter was used to put up a pilot rope line over the river to string the conductor. The damaged towers were replaced by temporary wooden structures.
The operation was challenging as there was no access to roads and all personnel, equipment and materials had to be flown in by helicopter. This involved the transportation of heavy equipment (up to 1.3 tons) by helicopter, using the underslung method. This method made it possible to transport equipment and cargo via a net hooked to a sling which was attached to the bottom of the helicopter. TAP also assisted rescue teams, delivering humanitarian aid, to cross flooded rivers.
“Fluor’s involvement in the power industry in South Africa dates back to 1995 when Trans-Africa Projects (TAP), a joint venture company between Eskom and Fluor, was formed to carry out transmission line, substation and auxiliary projects, mainly outside the borders of South Africa,” says Badenhorst. He adds that current transmission projects include the rehabilitation of the 500kV Cahora Bassa Transmission line that supplies South Africa with power. This project includes the construction of river crossings and the installation of higher towers, and deeper foundations, to prevent future flood damage.
TAP also provided services for NamPower, Namibia’s electrical utility and Motraco, a project that provides power to an aluminium smelter in Maputo, Mozambique. TAP in Mozambique is able to assist the local power network transmission industry with a high level design strategy to ensure a constant supply of power for the whole Southern African region.” concludes Badenhorst.
Written and issued by: Venetia de Vries, Fluor (083 288 9883). Photographs: Conrad Daffie