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1. OPENING CEREMONY
The opening ceremony of the workshop of the Scientific Committee of the 2008 – 2011 term of the Union of Producers, Transporters and Distributors of Electric Power in Africa (UPDEA) took place on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at the Hilton Hotel, Durban in South Africa.
It was chaired by Dr. Pat Naidoo, Managing Director of the WESTCOR Project who represented the Chief Executive of ESKOM.
The programme commenced with a presentation on safety by a staff of the hotel.
In his welcome address, Dr. Pat Naidoo, intimated that engineers are continuously being challenged to deliver solutions that are cost effective, and also that sustain the environment. In the delivery of the solutions, we need not wait till failure but to do it timeously to offset any eventualities.
Apologies were received from the Secretary General of UPDEA, who was said to be recuperating from an ailment. His representative, Mr. Sanno Mondré also welcomed participants and reiterated the changes that have taken place in the formation of the study groups of the Scientific Committee. He informed participants that the Executive Committee meeting in Abuja, Nigeria in November 2008 has confirmed the measures of revitalisation of the Scientific Committee retained during the Scientific Committee meeting held in Tunis I October 2008. Besides, the Executive Committee set up a committee loaded with the elaboration of Strategic Action Plan for the Union for the period 2009 – 2011.
The first Vice President of the Union who is the Chairman of the Scientific Committee also could not attend the meeting owing to pressing national demands and sent his apologies.
The Representative of the President of the UPDEA, Mr. Simon Ngure began by observing protocols and thanked the host ESKOM for arranging the Scientific Committee Meeting. He also congratulated South Africa for winning the bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2010.
In a speech on behalf of the president, he reminded participants that the Scientific Committee Workshop brings together members to discuss technical issues as well as receive reports of Study Committees. He indicated that as an intervention, UPDEA has proposed to prepare a 3 year Strategic Plan aimed at delivering value to UPDEA Members. He asked that we should look beyond the Technical Agenda and make concrete proposals that could contribute to the proposed Strategic Plan and UPDEA business at large in regard of the current reduction in economic activity due to the global financial crisis.
He intimated further that the technical solutions for this challenge demand innovation and creativity on our part, ranging from technology to financing to human capacity building. In this regard, he said, we must understand where we are, correctly assess the future and take bold but calculated steps forward.
2. SYNTHESIS OF PAPERS OF THE PLENARY SESSIONS
There were eight presentations after the opening ceremony.
2.1 Session 1: Two Papers
First Paper
Theme: The January 2008 Power Crisis in South Africa and the Lessons Learnt
Chairman: Mr. Simon Ngure, KenGen, Kenya
Presenter: Mr. Mark Chettiar, ESKOM, South Africa
Rapporteur: Mr. J. Amoako-Baah, Deputy Rapporteur-General, VRA, Ghana
The power crisis of January 2008 was as a result of declining reserve margin since 1999 which resulted in regional load shedding in 2006. In 2007, there was an intermittent national loading shedding. However, in January 2008, a daily load shedding began which prompted the government to declare a national power emergency on January 25, 2008.
The root causes of the power outages were as follows:
• Policy and regulatory framework inappropriate to attract new independent generators in conjunction with a restriction on the existing incumbent to build new generation plants.
• Planning assumptions were optimistic in terms of long-term generation performance availability and pessimistic in terms of economic growth projections.
• Unclear mandates and absent or inappropriate criteria on security of supply and the “buffers” that were required.
There were also direct causes of the power outages and these were: inadequate reserve margins, low coal stockpile levels, it poor quality, and heavy rainfall in January 2008
The key lessons that were learnt are:
• The need for one security of supply plan for the country with an appropriate funding plan associated with it.
• A power system needs adequate buffers on many fronts to deal with the unknown, with systemic shocks and to contain impact and allow for rapid recovery.
• Sustainable plant performance requires appropriate load factors.
Second Paper
Theme: System and Societal Resilience: Building on Lessons Learnt from the Power Crisis
Chairman: Mr. Simon Ngure, KenGen, Kenya
Presenter: Mr. Kannan Lakmeeharan, ESKOM, South Africa
Rapporteur: Mr. J. Amoako-Baah, Deputy Rapporteur-General, VRA, Ghana
Resilience is defined as the ability to:
· Anticipate and adapt successfully to significant/rapid changes in the environment
· Operate at elevated levels of stress without failure for extended periods of time
· Contain the impact (severity/duration) of failure due to unexpected events
· Recover quickly in a coordinated manner
· Learn from near-misses and recovery experiences
Factors such as: (i) the complexity of systems today (ii) inherent uncertainty related to possible major events, (iii) the drive for economic efficiencies and related threats to buffers, (iv) resource availability uncertainties, (v) unforeseen policy implications etc…. imply that systems can be expected at times to be poised on the edge of a cliff (Dalziell & McManus).
Under these conditions organisations with an entrenched resilient culture will be least vulnerable, most adaptable, and best able to recover from a shock that occurs.
Resilience can be considered in three contexts: (i) the strategic or long-term (develop, implement and enable the game plan) (ii) the operational context (Mitigate risk and build adaptive capability, and (iii) the human context (situational awareness, mental preparedness).
Eskom is engaging with it staff and stakeholders to both reduce the likelihood of future unexpected events impacting society to the extent that this happened in 2008, and to respond to such events should these occur.
2.2 Session 2: Two Papers
First Paper
Theme: Experiences during Electricity Shortfall (Crisis) in Kenya in 2006 – 2008
Chairman: Dr. Pat Naidoo, ESKOM, South Africa
Presenter: Mr. David Muthike, KenGen, Kenya
Rapporteur: Mr. J. Amoako-Baah, Deputy Rapporteur-General, VRA, Ghana
The reason behind the shortfall of power supply was that in 2006, the installed capacity was 1096 MW with an effective capacity of 1056 MW. This comprised hydro - 55%, thermal – 33% and geothermal (base load) – 12%. Drought conditions reduced the effective capacity by 15%. The minimum operating level of the Masinga reservoir is 1035 m. During March 2006, the minimum level was 1043.71 m. Currently the effective capacity is 1196 MW with a peak demand of 1070 MW and a reserved margin of 10%.
The mitigating solution was the provision of emergency power through and IPP
The process of installing the 100MW took about 90days in procurement and
50 days to install. Total emergency capacity is now 150MW after installing the additional 50MW by in June 2008
Utilities and the industry to kick-off demand side management to cut consumption by 50 MW by 2012
Second Paper
Theme: Integrated National Energy Programme, Universal Access Strategy
Chairman: Dr. Pat Naidoo, ESKOM, South Africa
Presenter: Mr. Issac Sokopo, ESKOM, South Africa
Rapporteur: Mr. J. Amoako-Baah, Deputy Rapporteur-General, VRA, Ghana
Electrification has a different meaning in South Africa than in many countries. Before the collapse of apartheid, there was a backlog of non electrified areas which was mainly rural. This backlog was due to the rural nature and topography of the areas which were not electrified.
The electrification programme was started by Eskom during the late 1980’s. It was further refined by the National Electrification Forum (NELF) during the early 1990’s. Access to electricity for households in RSA was approximately 30%.
The current National Electrification Funding (NEF) is approximately R2.50 billion annually from the fiscals and is able to result in approximately 300 000 connections per year of the total Backlog of 3.4 million households. In order to achieve universal access a total of R 3 billion is required annually to address backlog on electrification.
The DME is committed to achieve universal access within the identified period; the target is possible if all issues indicated can be addressed.
2.3 Session 3: Four Papers
First Paper
Theme: Western Power Corridor
Chairman: Mr. Antoinne Kouassi, CIE, Cote d’Ivoire
Presenter: Dr. Pat Naidoo, ESKOM, South Africa
Rapporteur: Mr. J. Amoako-Baah, Deputy Rapporteur-General, VRA, Ghana
The WESTCOR project is collaboration between SNE of DR Congo, ENE of Angola, NAMPOWER of Namibia, BPC of Botswana and ESKOM of South Africa to use the Congo river as a primary energy source.
A finding associated with the project is to convert the river flow into massive cash flows.
The river has a constant flow rate of 10,000 m3/sec, which is equivalent to 5000 MW. The strategy is to install 48 machines of run of river design with each machine rated at 220 MW with natural head of 50m and 400 m3/sec water flows
The WESTCOR project will be a new Regional State and Public Enterprise and will grow to become the Continental Public Enterprise. The project will have the cash flows, the technology edge, the working experience, the trained staff, the dream to serve AFRICA.
Construction starts 2010 and first power flows in 2012 to new al smelters in the DRC; 450 MW which delivers USD 290 m in cash flows. From 2009 to 2010, detailed engineering and financing activities and lots of workings with SHAREHOLDERS as in GOVERNMENT; Inter Ministry task teams established to co-ordinate Governments Contributions; SADC Infrastructure Team for Continuous Monitoring and Reporting to SADC Heads of States will take place.
Second Paper
Theme: Namibia’s Interconnection to Enhance Power Trade in the SAPP
Chairman: Mr. Antoinne Kouassi, CIE, Cote d’Ivoire
Presenter: Mr. Set-son K. Shifidi, Nampower, Namibia
Rapporteur: Mr. J. Amoako-Baah, Deputy Rapporteur-General, VRA, Ghana
The current demand for Namibia is around 450MW. Of this, internal generation provides 393MW. The difference is derived from imports.
New generation projects that are currently underway are Kudu gas project which would provide 800MW to be commissioned in 201?, the Baynes hydro project to provide 360MW and would be commissioned in 2016. A fourth unit of 100 MW at Ruacana to be on line by 2011.
A line to link Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia (ZIZABONA) will provide NamPower with secure security of supply for the next 5-10 years while they improve their own internal generation
Third Paper
Theme: ESKOM – EDM Medium Voltage Interconnection
Chairman: Mr. Antoinne Kouassi, CIE, Cote d’Ivoire
Presenter: Mr. Ravi Moonsamy, ESKOM, South Africa
Rapporteur: Mr. J. Amoako-Baah, Deputy Rapporteur-General, VRA, Ghana
Eskom placed a load embargo for new supplies in Kosi Bay, due to the 22kV voltage regulation limit being reached. A number of residential and commercial applications for electrical supply were received. The high voltage solution to provide additional electrical capacity to the system would take too long to construct and the amount of electrical grid strengthening required for the existing grid and the length of new network that would be required
As a bridging solution, Eskom entered into an agreement with Electricidade de Mozambique - national utility (EDM) to provide supply to the Kosi Bay area.
The project is expected to be completed by September 2009. Project is an example of role players in the region successfully working together.
Project, a bridging MV solution is an example of role players in the region successfully working together.
Fourth Paper
Theme: Update on the African Electrotechnical Commission
Chairman: Mr. Antoinne Kouassi, CIE, Cote d’Ivoire
Presenter: Mr. Paul Johnson, ESKOM, South Africa
Rapporteur: Mr. J. Amoako-Baah, Deputy Rapporteur-General, VRA, Ghana
The Secretary-General of AFSEC updated members on the activities in progress by the organization some of which are;
• Co-operation agreements with IEC and with CENELEC being finalised
• Application of release of 2009 funding from AFREC
• Proposal for the structure/scope of the AFSEC technical committees
• Planning for the 2009 general assembly
• Improvements to the AFSEC website
Currently, Eskom, South Africa, provides and funds the part-time Executive Secretary, and hence a temporary office for the AFSEC secretariat. Financial services and administrative support is contracted in from a professional association management services company. The permanent headquarters should have been formally established early in 2009. AFSEC is waiting on the African Union Commission to call on member states to make offers to host the permanent headquarters of AFSEC, following which the AFSEC Executive will make a decision on the host country. There is also the need to set up and operate a permanent Secretariat will only be possible when sufficient funds can be secured from both members and from AFREC/AU.
3. STUDY COMMITEES WORKSHOPS
3.1 Study Committee N°1
Operations, Maintenance, Development and Integration of Electric Systems in Africa
Theme: SC/CEN°1 0309 11
Title: Energy Management Systems in Eskom
Presented by: Dr Richard Candy Functions: Utility: Eskom
Eskom has adopted an Energy Management Systems, a technical operating system that is helping the efficiency of electrical power delivery to the customers and network management. This system is the combination of SCADA system and Power Application Software tools, i.e. state estimator, load flows, short circuit analysis, etc. This operating system integrates the power system data required by the system operators and those of network planners by providing reliable information on the current power system state in real time. This eliminates the glitches of inaccurate data that may lead to wrong operating decisions by the supplier of power and untimely responses.
Theme Code SC/CEN°1 0309-21
Title of the Presentation: Power transformers specification, design, quality control and testing
Presented by: Mr Nkosinathi Buthelezi Functions: Senior Consultant, Power Transformers and Reactors Utility: Eskom