22KV POWER LINE AT KWAMQHEMANE MKHONDO LOCAL MUNICIPALITY GERT SIBANDE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY MPUMALANGA PROVINCE

Application for the Construction & Operation of the Eskom 22kV Powerline: KwaMqhemane, Mkhondo Local Municipality, Gert Sibande District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province.
NSK Electrical & Construction Managers (Pty) Ltd (Applicant and water user) are applying for a General Authorisation (GA) for a proposed Eskom 22kV Powerline in KwaMqhemane, Mkhondo Local Municipality, Gert Sibande District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province.

KwaMqhemane is located approximately 12km east of the town of Piet Retief in the Mkhondo Local Municipality, Gert Sibande District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province, 3km from the RSA-Eswatini border. The village is east of the R35 and within the plantations of timber companies in the area.
The project area is located in the W51D quaternary catchment and crosses an unnamed tributary of the Mhkondvo River in the upper reaches of the Usuthu River catchment of Water Management Area (WMA) 3, i.e., the Inkomati-Usuthu WMA.
The Applicant is proposing the following:
• A 22kV overhead single circuit powerline approximately 1,6 km long from an existing distribution connection to provide electricity to the western part of KwaMqhemane, where the Madolo Primary School is located.
Construction of the powerline will be done in accordance with the Eskom Engineering Standard: Electrification Design Guideline for MOU, Unique Identifier: 240- 63376414 (attached as Appendix 1).
• Virtually the entire powerline route is along existing unpaved roads, but a very limited distance of access tracks of up to 5m in width may be established on the eastern section of the line.
• This entire short powerline will be constructed with most pylons located within 100m from demarcated surface water streams and all within 500 meters of identified and demarcated wetlands.
• 2 actual stream crossings occur along the powerline route.

Province(s): Mpumalanga