Tierpoort, Bashewa and Witpoort residents have to deal with a new Eskom power line that will cut across their smallholdings. Many residents first heard about the power line when Eskom agents approached them to purchase or lease their property for the erection of masts and towers.

Eskom’s agent, AMP Property/Data Management and Land Acquisition, is still seeking the best route from an Eskom, environmental and landowner's perspective. The new line has to run parallel with existing infrastructure because there are too many serious problems that can crop up if existing lines are crossed.

According to Mike Strange from the Magalies-Bronberg Property-owners Association (MBPA), Eskom agents are having difficulties in finding a suitable path through Tierpoort because there has been a lot of development since the project has been approved.

This 2008 site notice was placed at the Witpoort (M30) intersection of the Bapsfontein-Bronkhorstspruit Road.

Authorisation
The National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has granted authorisation for this 400 kV power line on 8 October 2009. Eskom appointed Zitholele Consulting to do the scoping process and to compile the environmental impact assessment report.

Advertisements were placed to announce the availability of the Draft Scoping Reports
(DSRs) and to invite stakeholders to public participation meetings during July 2008.

Site notices were posted on the Delmas/ Rietfontein/ Kleinzonderhout roads and M30; at the Witpoort (M30) intersection with the R25; at the side road junction of Knoppiesfontein and Welbekend roads, just opposite Blue Gum Valley shooting range; at strategic crossings in Tiegerpoort, Bashewa and Tweefontein; and at the Tiegerpoort Post Office.

Even though site notices were posted throughout the area, the list of interested and affected parties participating in this 2008 process contains very few local residents.

A 2008 notice near the Spenmist sign in Bashewa

Integration
According to Eskom agent, Annemarie Botha from AMP Property/Data Management and Land Acquisition, the 400 kV power line that will cross the Bronberg area is called Bravo 3 and forms part of the Bravo Integration project. Bravo is the name of an approximately R80-billion coal-fired power station located between Bronkhorstspruit and Witbank.

In October 2005 the Integrated Strategic Electricity Planning (ISEP) process identified the need for increased base load electricity supply by 2010. The Bravo Integration Project was proposed with the purpose to integrate and connect a new power station into the existing Eskom electricity network so that additional electricity could be supplied to areas such as Secunda and Midrand.

Environmental authorisation for Bravo power station was granted by the National Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) in 2007. Construction started in 2008 and Bravo, which forms part of Eskom’s R150-billion expansion plan, was expected to begin delivering electricity around 2013.

Site notice placed at Tiegerpoort Post Office at the Tiegerpoort Centre in 2008

Bravo
The Bravo Integration Project spans the provinces of Gauteng and Mpumalanga and was handled as five individual environmental impact assessment (EIA) projects:

• Bravo 1 - two 400 kV by-pass lines of approximately 10 km each from Sol substation (Kriel) to Zeus substation (Secunda) and Sol substation to Camden substation (Ermelo).
• Bravo 2 - two 400 kV loop-in lines: the Kendal (Ogies) to Apollo (Centurion) line; and Duvha (Middelburg) to Minerva (Johannesburg) line into the Bravo power station (Bronkhorstspruit). Each of these lines will be about 10 km long.
• Bravo 3 - a new 400 kV line from Bravo power station to Lulamisa (Kyalami) substation. This line will be approximately 90 km long and will run through the Bronberg area.
• Bravo 4 - two 400 kV lines from Kendal power station to Zeus substation and from Bravo power station to Zeus substation. These two lines will be about 90 km long and will run parallel to each other.
• Bravo 5 - a 400 kV by-pass line, about 10 km long, on the Bravo-Vulcan (Witbank) line to by-pass Duvha.

Contact
To keep updated on the Magalies-Bronberg Property-owners Association’s reports on this project, visit www.mbpanet.com.

To read up on the project’s history, go to www.eskom.co.za/eia. Select Bravo Integration and pick Bravo 3 for more information about the route through the Bronberg area.

Contact Anne-Marie Botha from AMP Property/Data Management and Land Acquisition at 082-788-7686 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .