South African energy company Eskom has contracted to purchase Emergency Restoration Systems (ERS) for each of its seven operational districts. The first of these mobile temporary high voltage systems developed by KEMA and AMEC Spie were shipped to Eskom in April 2006.

Cape Town has been dependent on external electricity supplies since one unit at the local nuclear power plant developed problems and the other was shut down for maintenance. To increase the reliability of supply to the city and to restore compliance with the n-1 criterion, Eskom placed an urgent order for an ERS. At the start of April, three pylons and a hoist unit, which together form a complete system, were shipped from the Netherlands.

Fast and safe
The recently dispatched ERS system is one of seven bound for South Africa. Last year, Eskom selected the KEMA-AMEC Spie ERS over various other systems on the market. Eskom decided on the KEMA-AMC Spie ERS based in part on the speed, safety, and reliability of setting up and operating the system.

In August 2005, KEMA gave Eskom a demonstration of the system and trained local personnel in setting up emergency power supplies using the ERS. Further training is currently in progress, to ensure that Eskom’s staff are completely familiar with the procedures involved in erecting the pylons and with the ERS software. The foundations for the remaining six systems are being adapted to suit local conditions and tested out. Delivery of the remaining system to Eskom is expected during summer 2006.