TACKLING CABLE THEFT BY REPLACING OVERHEAD COPPER CONDUCTOR WITH ALUMINIUM

Langeberg Municipality has initiated an emergency project valued at R5.5 million as part of Tender 45/2023 to replace 11000 Volt and 66000 Volt overhead copper lines with aluminium, in high-risk areas prone to cable theft and vandalism.

Cable theft has become a major challenge that causes residents and businesses great inconvenience and loss of income. The budget of Langeberg Municipality is also affected by material replacements, loss of electricity sales during outages, and overtime expenses. While electricians attend to these unexpected repairs, the planned maintenance work falls behind schedule. 

In other municipal areas the rural areas outside of towns are usually serviced by Eskom. Langeberg Municipality is the only municipality in the Western Cape that provides electricity distribution services in its rural area as part of its network, covering an area that comprises 880 kilometers of overhead 11000 Volt distribution lines.

The 11000 Volt sections were initially a target of daily theft, which intelligence suggested was committed by a syndicate. Throughout 2024, work was done in several locations with various teams to replace cables. As the replacement of the 11000 Volt conductor progressed, theft of the 66000 Volt conductor increased to such an extent that theft occurred daily.

One of the areas severely affected by this cable theft was the overhead 66000 Volt Muiskraalkop Substation to Goudmyn Substation feeder line (11.3km) that supplies the Goedemoed, Goudmyn, Zandvliet and Wakkerstroom East sections. To keep electricity supply to these areas, it had to be diverted with great challenges from several other areas particularly McGregor Substation. The window period to do so gradually narrowed when seasonal operations increased the demand, resulting in low voltage issues.

In July 2024, floods washed away several 66000 Volt pole structures, which were replaced under difficult conditions.

The Muiskraalkop Substation to Goudmyn Substation feeder line project, however, was further delayed until September 2024 since work on the 66000 Volt conductors could not begin until materials arrived from overseas, with extended waiting period to release the cargo from the Durban port.

The project covered an area of 11.3 kilometers where the remaining old cables had to be untied at 183 pole structures, lowered to ground level and removed from site. They were replaced with three new aluminium overhead 66000 Volt conductors and one earth conductor at each of the 183 pole structures totaling to 45.2 km cable and 549 insulators (66,000 Volt) installed in record time by 12 November 2024. The project cost R2 541 000 in material and R350 000.00 in labour.

Overhead lines run through a hostile terrain, over mountains, fields, buildings, and rivers, which was especially challenging to work by boat. Some structures were difficult to access, because residents live under these lines and against the area of work. At several points 66000 Volt conductors crossed live 11000 Volt conductors, which had to be switched off by means of planned power outages.

Despite the challenges the service provider, Anchor Powerlines, together with additional teams and vehicles worked seven days a week from September 2024, putting in long hours to complete the first phase of the project. While the municipal electrical staff, led by Superintendent Ryno Bouwer, worked behind the scenes to perform daily high voltage switching that rerouted electricity load to keep electricity going, and conducted planned shutdowns.

During this time, consumers were further inconvenienced by electricity outages, and tremendous voltage drops. We appreciate our residents' patience and understanding throughout the process. The next phases of the project will be executed as budget allows.

DP LUBBE
MUNICIPAL MANAGER