Eskom has selected suppliers who will compete for upcoming transformer contracts worth R7 billion. The first contract for 26 transformers is expected to be awarded by July.

Over the next 10 years, Eskom envisages 101 large-scale and various other sizes of transformers, procured mostly from local suppliers with an international footprint, will be required for infrastructure construction.

“The aim is to connect 53 GW of new generation capacity over the next 10 years. Innovative project delivery models and partnerships are being explored and implemented to drive accelerated delivery of the Transmission Development Plan, including a priority programme for strategic projects,” said Segomoco Scheppers, Eskom’s Managing Director for Transmission.

The National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) issued an open tender enquiry in March last year and selected five suppliers to manufacture the power transformers, which will supplement limited local supply capacity.

A framework agreement was designed to procure the 101 transformers to address large-scale demand, enabling the delivery of approximately 28 GW to the grid by the end of the 2028 financial year. “The current schedule requires a first batch of 26 large-scale transformers to be delivered between 12 and 36 months from order placement. This is to meet the urgent requirement to increase transmission capacity for customers and independent power producers,” Scheppers said.

“Subsequent tenders will increase local manufacture as the supply chain becomes more established in South Africa.” As part of an initiative to accredit more suppliers locally and internationally, the NTCSA has accredited 22 factories for various classes of transformers.

For the priority programmes accelerating the delivery of transmission infrastructure, 34 transformers will be used in:

• 25 projects at existing substations to unlock 13 000 MW of new generation capacity.
• 22 expedited transmission projects unlocking 24 000 MW of grid connection capacity.

The NTCSA is developing 47 projects with potential to unlock 37 GW of grid connection capacity between 2025 and 2033. These projects are at different stages of implementation in terms of design, procurement and construction.

“The NTCSA is undertaking the largest infrastructure roll-out programme since the inception of its predecessor, Eskom Transmission Division. The commitment is to deliver 170 transformers to bring on board 105 865 MVA transformer capacity and 14 218 km of new transmission lines by 2032,” Scheppers said.