TRANSMISSION POLES
LATTICE-TYPE TOWERS - FOR POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION PROJECT
S
tructa Group has proved that self-supported monopole masts can replace lattice-type towers in a large-scale power transmission and distribution project in Ethiopia. The company’s top mechanical engineer in charge of designing masts relates to Construction Review how this feat was accomplished and prospects for the project in Africa.
Visibly elated, Erasmus Cilliers, the senior mechanical engineer of Structa Group is revelling in the successful delivery of the company self-supported tubular monopole masts to a power transmission project in Ethiopia. The ongoing project forms part of a large-scale electricity infrastructure upgrade for Ethiopia and focuses on the transmission and distribution of electricity from various substations to surrounding areas of Addis Ababa. These distribution networks convey electricity with high voltages from 132 kV up to 230 kV and span through tough terrains, city centres and densely populated informal settlements. Taking the mast into Africa Building on experience from the project in Ethiopia, Structa is looking forward to providing its know-how in power and telecommunication
transmission pole solutions to clients in other African countries. And already, there are encouraging prospects. “We are continuously receiving requests for mast designs, and we strive to optimise these masts in conjunction with the project requirements and scope. In terms of using self-supported masts, some projects have been identified for which these masts will be a highly suitable product,” reveals, adding: “However, the use of towers is never eliminated but rather added as an additional avenue. Structa is always ready to take on the task of designing and manufacturing optimised sustainable products for their clients.” Structa was able to deliver the first batch of masts within 15 months from the initial contact. What made the project a different kind of a beast was that the monopoles were for the Ethiopian project were beyond the size that the company normally delivers for clients. Structa manufactures standard masts and towers for voltages of 11kV up to 220kV. But Cilliers is content that it was delivered to client’s expectations – on time, to exact specifications in terms of size and quality. Currently, Structa has three masts product categories: light masts, communication structures, and the utility and transmission towers marketed as Electrotowers.
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Jan - Feb 2020 | CR
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