The MOZAL 400 kV Transmission Line Project

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Environmental Impact Assessment for construction of a 400 kV transmission line from Camden Power Station (South Africa) to Maputo (Mozambique) through Swaziland *

Background

A new aluminium smelter project, MOZAL, has been proposed for Maputo by the international mining house Gencor. The expected initial load of the smelter will be 450 MW in 1999 and increasing to 850 MW some time later. The smelter will be supplied by two new 400 kV lines from ESKOM's Camden and Arnot Power Stations to Maputo. One of the 400 kV lines could be routed through Swaziland with significant advantages to the Swaziland Electricity Board (SEB).

The proposed MOZAL smelter project now offers SEB with the option of turning the delayed Fourth Feeder project into an opportunity for Swaziland. The 400 kV line from Camden to Maputo could be diverted through Swaziland via a new substation at Dwaleni a few kilometres south of the main load area of Matsapha Industrial Estate.

Benefits to SEB include:

• the 400 kV line to a 400/132 kV substation in Swaziland could be built in the same time as the Fourth Feeder 275 kV line

• the quality of supply to SEB will be significantly improved with the 400/132 kV substation

• the 400 kV line is much more resistant to lightening than a 275 kV line due to the higher Basic Insulation Level (BIL) required for switching surges at 400 kV, an important consideration due to the high incidence of lightening

• the system losses on the SEB network would be reduced by about 40% as the main feed into SEB will be 400 kV at the outset rather than 132 kV

• Swaziland's power supply needs will be met for the next 30 years with no further high voltage transmission lines greater than 132 kV being required

The Possible Routes

Two corridors have been identified (Figure 1) through Swaziland as possible line routes. The preferred route would be one that:

• requires the minimal amount of resettlement

• on land that can easily be purchased or used with Chief's permission

• on non-agricultural land

• does not interfere with any cultural assets, and

• is easily accessible for for future maintenance of the servitude

The straight line option between Camden Power Station and the proposed smelter site in Maputo proved to be unacceptable and impractical from a social and technical point of view. It was decided that the following area types needed to be avoided:

• difficult topography and scenic areas (Ntondozi Hills)

• proclaimed natural areas (Hlane and Mlawula)

• urban and settlement areas (Manzini, Matsapha and Mankayane)

• established infrastructure

• commercial timber areas (Usutu Pulp Company forests)

• sugarcane growing areas (Simunye and Mhlume)

Consultation with over 40 interested and affected parties on the possible route resulted in the west-east route having the least impacts.

Both alternative routes run through the same area from the western border of Swaziland to east of Manzini. The northern route then heads north towards Tshaneni. The southern or west-east route avoids the Hlane and Mlawula Nature Reserves.

Concerns that the west-east (southern route) route was in a well preserved landscape of unique flora and fauna was mitigated by keeping the final alignment away from the pristine gorges near Mlawula Nature Reserve and the protection worthy area of Ntungule Hills.

The southern route avoids the Simunye and Mhlume sugar cane areas as well as the Hlane and Mlawula Nature Reserve and crosses the Lubombo mountain range in an area with existing access. The line route would follow the Siteki- Mhlumeni road (soon to upgraded to tar and border post re-opened).

The northern route past the sugar areas could impact on proposed eco-tourism projects around the Sand River Dam and would pass through areas with no ready access. The most significant impact of the northern route would be the "cane-free" servitudes which would contribute to a loss in cane production as well as potential small growers in the Tshaneni region.

Figure 1: The MOZAL Project Corridor Alternatives

Further Details

Further details of the project can be obtained from:

or

* The information provided above does not necessarily represent the opinion or views of the Swaziland Government or the Swaziland Electricity Board

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This page was last updated on 05 November 2001