- Namibia’s energy utility, NamPower, has inaugurated the Auas-Gerus 400 kV transmission line.
The 287 km line, which runs from Auas transmission station outside of Windhoek until Gerus transmission station near Otjiwarongo, is a strategic and crucial investment towards Namibia’s electricity transmission network, as it will allow NamPower to maintain pace with the evolving and increasing electricity needs of the country.
The Auas-Gerus transmission line project is valued at over N$ 870 million, funded from NamPower’s balance sheet.
Consistent with NamPower’s ambition to maintain the national transmission grid at world-class standards, they have installed 420 kV Air Core High Voltage Shunt Reactors (HVSRs) at Auas transmission station, Gerus transmission station and Kunene transmission station near Ruacana. These are the first ever Air Core High Voltage Shunt Reactors to be installed in Africa, and second only to Germany worldwide.
Shunt reactors are used in substations to limit over voltages or prevent excessive voltage levels caused by incoming high voltage overhead transmission lines.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
