Fourth Eskom Feeder Project

Environmental Impact Assessment for construction of a 275 kV transmission line from the Oshoek/Ngwenya border to a new substation in the Zombodze area and integration of a new substation into the 132 kV network *

Background

Swaziland is a small landlocked mountain kingdom with an area of 17 353 km3, which has a long history of struggle towards greater economic independence through sustainable development.

It is widely believed that among the highly significant factors which have contributed to Swaziland's failure to attract new investment in recent years, has been the unacceptable quality of the electricity supply. The Swaziland Electricity Board (SEB) has responded to the problem by evaluating the various options for meeting current and future demand, and has determined that the most rapid, safe and cost effective way of improving continuity of supply to existing domestic, industrial and agricultural consumers, is to build a 275 kV transmission line between Oshoek/Ngwenya and the Zombodze area, thereby connecting Swaziland to the South African electricity network.

Other improvements in the internal network which will be necessary to ensure that the new transmission line, or Fourth Eskom Feeder, functions optimally, include construction of a new sub station in the Zombodze area, strengthening the 132 kV network from Helehele to Kalanga.

The main aim of the Environmental Impact Assessment for this project is to advise the SEB about the preferred route for the new 275 kV transmission line between Oshoek and the Zombodze area, the location of the new sub station and the route for the additional 132 kV integration lines.

The distance over which the Fourth Eskom Feeder is to be constructed, about 50 kms, is relatively short by South African standards. Much of the terrain between the border and Zombodze is mountainous and has a relatively high rainfall. It is characterised by patches of extensive subsistence farming, intensive land use (forestry and agriculture) and densely populated areas.

The Possible Routes

Possible routes have been selected and are referred to as the Northern, Middle and Southern routes. The preferred route would be the one causing least damage to the environment, while being safe, efficient and affordable.

The main components of the EIA can be summarised as follows:

• Review of all existing documentation relating to project history and requirements
• Identification of and consultation with interested and affected parties (I&AP)
• Intensive scoping to produce Terms of Reference for the EIA for approval by the Swaziland Environment Authority (SEA)
• Establishment of liaison groups representing key interest organisations from public and private sectors
• Identification of key issues and concerns
• Institution of specialist studies
• Prediction and evaluation of impacts
• Analysis and recommendation of preferred option
• Submission of a preliminary Environmental Impact Report to the SEA for external review
• Agreement by all parties on the preferred route, location of new sub station and route for the 132 kV line
• Preparation of a detailed Comprehensive Mitigation Plan (CMP)
• Submission of the CMP to the SEA

The Northern Route

The alignment of the Northern Route (NR) falls within the highveld physiographic region, which is characterised by medium and high hills steeply dissected, and escarpments with undulating plateaux. The line originates at approximately 1 km south of the Ngwenya Border Post at an altitude of 1428 m. After 12 km the route passes just north of Motshane New Peak (1565 m), south of Hawane Dam and then eastwards across Pine Valley at a point just north of Mbuluzi School. The route then turns south of the Mucuceni Range and north of Sibebe Hills, then follows almost a due southerly route east of Commissie Nek, along the eastern edge of the Mdzimba Mountain range for approximately 7.5 km until reaching the Zombodze area. The NR falls mainly within the Mbuluzi River basin, but traverses the Motjane and Mbuluzi Rivers at the southern end of Hawane Dam. Settlement is very sparse along the most northerly section of the route.

The Middle Route

The Middle Route (MR) follows the southern route until Mpolonjeni where there are two sub routes:

• The northern sub route of the MR starts at 6 - 7 km along the southern route, passes for approximately 3.5 km over hilly terrain, through Tonkwane Estate forest, follows the southern extremity of the Mbabane urban area and thence to the northernmost tip of Mlilwane Game Sanctuary
• The southern sub route of the MR starts at a point 10 km along the southern route, crosses over the Mtambani River tributary, over hills and then through the Tonkwane Estate Forest (in the firebreak). After this, the route passes Stroma peak (1404 m) and joins the northern sub route at the tip of Mlilwane Game Sanctuary.

The common portion of the MR then traverses the MR3 road (Mbabane - Manzini) and runs approximately parallel to the west bank of the Mbabane River for a distance of about 5 km, through the Ezulweni Valley. It then crosses the Lusushwana River, along the southern foothills of the Mzimba range. The MR then traverses the Lusushwana River again to meet up with the southern route at an altitude of 640 m before passing through the Zombodze area.

The MR passes the Upper and Lower Middleveld physiographic zones where the soils are frequently erodible, the slopes sometimes steep and the rainfall relatively high.

The Southern Route

The Southern Route (SR) originates in the highveld zone and then passes through the upper Middleveld zone to just north of Malkerns. The southern route starts with one of two sub options:

• 2.5 km from the border, the western sub route passes in a southerly direction, over a Motjane River tributary in a south-easterly direction, over hilly terrain for 5.5 km then south over hilly terrain for a further 7 -8 km
• 4 km from the border, approximately 500 m south of Maseru peak (1377 m) the eastern sub route of the MR passes over a tributary of the Motjane River and hilly terrain near Flag peak (1582 m) for a further 5.5 km, then in a southerly direction over hilly terrain for 7 - 8 km where it joins the western sub route of the SR

The common portion of the SR continues in a south easterly direction over hilly terrain west of Japa Nek peak (1172 m) and approximately 2 km west of Luphohlo Dam. The route then passes over the Lusushwana River west of Mhlambanyatsi into Usutu Forests. Following firebreaks for the bulk of the route, the SR traverses hilly terrain west of Mshange Hill peak (1212 m). It then passes into the upper Middleveld zone where low hills prevail, skirts the southern tip of Mlilwane Game Sanctuary, and passes up about 2 kms of it's eastern boundary, before heading east to the Lusushwana Valley north of Mahlanya school and thence to the Zombodze area following the same route as the MR.

Public Meetings

Public meetings with I&AP's have happened several times to solicit views and concerns. The last meeting was on the 19th March 1997.

Project Update

The SEB 4th Feeder project has been replaced by the 400kV MOZAL project line. Some of the internal 132kV integration proposals will remain in place and connect to the 400kV substation.

Further Details

Further details of the project can be obtained from:

* 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