Power Installation Profile
Power Installations (PI) is a division of CBi Electric African Cables that specializes in the installation and maintenance of Medium (11-33kV) and High (44-132kV) Voltage Power Cable.
The division has been in operation since1986 during this time the division has achieved many milestones, not least of which was the installation and commissioning of the first ever HV XLPE cable to be installed in South Africa – still in operation, without failure, for over twenty years.
PI is the forerunner, in South Africa, of installation of MV and HV Power cable. Installations take place on a turnkey basis with cable supplied from CBi Electric African Cables, accessories from local and/or international suppliers and the installation of these performed by PI personnel.
High voltage installations are backed by fully type tested systems ensuring that the installation has been tested in its entirety and has proven compatibility of the cable with its associated accessories. In certain cases, customers have requested type testing of MV cable circuits and these have also been easily accommodated by PI.
In addition to turnkey work the division focuses strongly on maintenance of HV fluid filled and XLPE cable systems. Fluid filled cable technology was introduced into South Africa in the late 1960’s and was only replaced by XLPE dielectric in the early 1980’s. To date some 1200km of fluid filled cable remains in operation in South Africa. Over and above the age of these circuits, the majority of personnel qualified to work on these cable systems has dwindled significantly in the last decade. Subsequent lack of maintenance is resulting in increased failure rates and outages associated with these circuits.
In order to prevent unwanted outages and assist utilities with strategic maintenance decisions, PI offers service in the following areas:
Assessment Service
Through rigorous testing, PI personnel are able to determine the existing condition of either HV fluid filled or XLPE circuits. Test results as well as recommendations as to the future course of action i.e. maintenance, associated with the cable circuit are then presented to the customer.
Breakdown Maintenance
Immediate repair of HV fluid filled or XLPE cable circuits should these experience a fault.
Planned Preventative Maintenance
Planned annual maintenance of cable circuits according to pre-determined testing and inspection criteria.
Refurbishment Maintenance
Planned refurbishment of strategic components associated with mostly fluid filled cables during off-peak load periods.
Accessory and Cable Supply
Through CBi Electric African Cables’ long standing supplier relationships PI is able to procure any accessory required for the repair/strategic stock holding of any HV cable circuit within South Africa.
The division has been successful in securing maintenance contracts with utilities that have been pro-active in extending the life of their existing cable assets through active maintenance.
Power Installations staff are highly accredited and experienced in the field of fluid filled and XLPE cable technology, in the HV realm, and paper and XLPE insulated cable technology at MV levels. The division further boasts the highly coveted ISO 9001:2001 accreditation and is driven to achieve the highest level of safety on its installation sites. To this end PI has received numerous safety awards for its site operations throughout South Africa.
PI has regional offices based in Durban and Cape Town with its head office based in Vereeniging.
The division has a long standing record of quality installation and maintenance of all types of power cable and its track record has resulted in an unequaled and unsurpassable cable installation and maintenance service offering.