357t transformer begins its journey from Rotterdam

The first of seven transformers
– and the biggest by power
rating (910MVA) ever to be
brought into South Africa –
for the R120-billion Medupi
Power Station being built
near Lephalale in Limpopo
province, is en-route to South
Africa.
Manufactured by Siemens
in Europe, the transformer was
shipped out of Rotterdam and
is expected in Richards Bay
at the end of February from
where it will be moved by road
to the power station.
According to Kriba Naiken,
managing director of African
Project Logistics (APL), the
projects division of logistics
company ICM Group who are
responsible for transporting
the transformer, it is set to
reach the Medupi power station
towards the end of March.
“This is the biggest
transformer ever to be brought
into Africa. Weighing in at
around 357 tons, it will be slow
going by road.”
Measuring 12.1 meters in
length, 4.1 meters in width
and is 5 meters high, it is also
accompanied by some 180 tons
of accessories.
“We are going to use a
specialised beam trailer – of
which there is only one in
the country – to move the
transformer to the power
station. We have worked very
closely with all the role-players
monitoring the route and all
risks have been identified and
dealt with.”
According to Naiken there
is no room for mistakes as any
damage or delays have huge
consequential impacts for
Eskom's first large-scale power
generation investment in more
than two decades.
The Medupi project, which
is the biggest dry-cooled
power station currently under
construction internationally,
will have six boilers each
powering an 800 MW turbine,
producing 4800 MW of power,
making it probably the biggest
dry-cooled power station in the
world.
Medupi will be supplied
by coal from Exxaro’s
Grootegeluk coal mine, with
whom Eskom has already
placed a contract to supply
14.6 MT coal per year for the
next 40 years.
The first 800 MW unit of
the power station is expected to
be commissioned in early 2012,
with the next units following at
nine month intervals.
“There is a lot of excitement
around this project,” said
Naiken. He said much planning
and effort had gone into the
project to ensure that the
sensitive internal moving
components of the transformer
were being kept safe at all
times, and that it arrived in
South Africa – and ultimately
its final destination.