Midvaal Unveils R49-Million Savanna City Substation to Boost Electricity Capacity

MIDVAAL — Midvaal Local Municipality has switched on its new Savanna City Substation, a R49-million project officials say will ease pressure on the area's electricity grid and support future development.

The municipality unveiled the completed substation on Tuesday, confirming that construction was finished on schedule and within its original budget.

The facility forms part of a wider infrastructure drive by the municipality to keep electricity supply reliable as demand grows across the Midvaal area.

Built to Eskom's technical standards, the substation includes a terrace and earthmat, plinths and foundations, and an 88kV control room fitted with ventilation systems and warning signage. It also houses 11kV switching rooms, a separate control room and a load control room.

An oil holding dam was constructed to service the 88/11kV transformers, and the yard was surfaced with stone in line with required specifications.

The municipality said the project also fed into the local economy, generating at least 25 jobs during construction and drawing in 10 small, medium and micro enterprises as subcontractors.

Executive Mayor Peter Teixeira said the substation would help the municipality keep pace with growth in the area.

"Midvaal continues to make these investments to unlock further developments and to ensure that our infrastructure keeps pace with that growth," Teixeira said.

Municipal officials described the Savanna City Substation as a significant addition to Midvaal's electricity network, increasing capacity in a region that has seen steady residential and commercial expansion in recent years.