Proposed installation of the Koopan and Hakskeenpan Grid Alignments near Rietfontein in the Northern Cape

Rerouting of the Rietfontein-Rietfontein 33kV powerline near the Rietfontein Settlement in the Northern Cape Province. The purpose of rerouting this powerline is to get it out of 2 pans (Hakskeen Pan and Koopan). Currently the Rietfontein-Rietfontein 33kV powerline runs through both of these pans. When there is water in the pans the powerline towers are prone to falling over because of the wet clay soil. The wet clay soil then makes it very difficult for maintenance vehicles to reach the fallen structures in order to repair the fallen structures. The result of this is Eskom customers in the area being without electricity for extended periods at a time. The current powerline configuration consists of bird friendly wood pole structure (D-DT-1870). This is the same configuration that will be used on the two sections where the line will be deviated. The length of the wood pole structures will range from 9 to 13 metres. The poles are planted 2 metres deep in holes drilled by a truck mounted drill. The holes are 300mm in diameter and 2 metres deep. The average distance between structures is 100 metres. The Koopan Powerline Deviation will be 10.8km in length and the Hakskeen Pan Powerline Deviation will be 19.8km in length.