ESI Africa spoke with Mamiki Matlawa, Group Business Development Executive at ACTOM, in an exclusive interview about the market and their sponsorship at Enlit Africa 2022.
ACTOM is the largest manufacturer, solution provider, repairer, maintainer and distributor of electro-mechanical equipment in Africa, offering a winning and balanced combination of manufacturing, service, repairs, maintenance, projects and distribution through its 33 outlets throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
As a Group ACTOM plays a role in all of the 5Ds. However, it is expected that Digitalisation can be a strong driver and must underpin the other initiatives.
Enlit Africa (the unifying brand for African Utility Week and POWERGEN Africa) invites you to join the conversation 7-9 June 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Intelligent switchgear has become a game-changer for utilities and end-users. Digitisation and communication are driving the ability of the end-user and utility to monitor operations, analyse events and provide real-time data and information. This can be used to control abnormal developments and avoid sudden downtime, thus reducing energy losses and costs.
ACTOM MV Switchgear has a range of future-proof switchgear products specifically designed for these applications that competes with the best in the world. Renewable energy developers and operators, in particular, can benefit tremendously from the solutions we offer to reduce downtime and facilitate preventative maintenance as opposed to crisis management.
ACTOM High Voltage (HVE) in conjunction with its technology partners have developed asset performance management solutions to help customers with condition-based maintenance strategies. ACTOM Distribution Transformers is also excited by the high demand for NECRTs because our design is more robust and that was brought on by the more stringent local operating conditions.
We are also excited about customer co-generation as an emerging trend.
We have been supplying the market with Premium specification LV motors for over 10 years. We have developed products to meet our customers’ needs. For example, ACTOM MV Switchgear’s in-house research and development team are agile enough to design unique solutions for the African market as we are aware of the circumstances of the local customer and have the flexibility to implement them where potentially many other manufacturers may find these solutions prohibitive to implement as a result of the niche requirements. We are proud to be one of the only local manufacturers of MV switchgear in South Africa, providing employment for over 700 people.
On top of this, ACTOM Power Transformers has participated significantly in the renewables space from the introduction of the REIPPP; ACTOM HVE’s in-house engineering design capabilities and wealth of industry experience help to customise solutions that provide specific solutions to address our customer’s needs; and ACTOM Distribution Transformers has over a hundred years transformer design experience and is a leader in implementing new technologies like the use of amorphous core, the use of ester oils and other technologies.
Our Distribution Transformers have also been the leading supplier to Eskom, the municipalities and the general industry. We offer a wide range of compliant metering products and solutions, allowing a tailor-made solution for the exact requirement. We also offer good technical knowledge and a high level of technical support.
Being appointed as a contract supplier for MV electric motors to ESKOM is a specifically proud moment. ACTOM MV Switchgear has been involved in many prestigious projects and from its large install base, the chances are high that, in some way, your energy has come through one of our switchgear panels in some way from generation through transmission and finally to distribution.
A notable project includes the manufacture, supply, installation and commissioning of the 11kV indoor switchgear for Kamoa Copper Mine in the DRC. This is the largest copper mine in the world and the upgrade project started in 2020 and is still ongoing. To date, ACTOM has supplied more than 250 switchgear panels to this project. ACTOM Power Transformers has also supplied Power Transformers to ESKOM Generation, Transmission and Power Distribution, Municipalities, Mining projects locally and into Sub Saharan Africa, Datacentres, General Industry and over 40 renewable projects.
In 2016, ACTOM High Voltage supplied Hybrid Type 66kV Switches to a project where Mozambique’s and Zambia’s national utilities, Electricidade de Mozambique (EDM) and ZESCO, deployed a powership of 115MW to supply power to land-locked Zambia via Mozambique for a period of two years. The Powership supplied electricity to Nacala between 2016-2018. This delivery of economically critical electricity was the world’s first cross-border power delivery by a single Powership.
The most recent projects for ACTOM Distribution Transformers are the design and manufacture of the transformers used in the pad mount transformer kiosks in Goldenvalley and Excelsior wind farms and the transformers in the Greefspan 2 photovoltaic farm. There are over 6,000 distribution transformers that are ester oil-filled currently in the Eskom fleet that are designed and manufactured by ACTOM Distribution Transformers. City Power Johannesburg, Medupi Power Station.
In our opinion, the three biggest challenges facing the industry are; funding of development/infrastructure projects; the lack of decision-making causing delays to projects and corruption which further impacts jobs; and product support in the country.
This is due to slow Generation and Transmission infra-structure development, constant loss of skill and experience in the energy industry, corruption, monopolisation, little to no private sector growth in renewable energy generation, no accountability for short sight on the part of decision-makers in the industry, and the rising costs of energy. In short, getting the future energy mix correct
It is key to acknowledge that Africa needs to support African products and services. Africa has the capability to be self-sufficient and to become less reliant on Europe and the Eastern countries. Africa has, in recent years, become a “dumping ground” for inferior products and services that don’t comply with local requirements but due to corruption are “forced” into the market. We should focus on speeding up infrastructure development and how to maintain, sustain and add to the current energy generation for affordable electricity that would be available to all.
The economy is heavily reliant on a healthy energy sector. This is a cornerstone to ensure growth can take place on the continent. It is critical that it be improved and developed to ensure stability and growth. It simply cannot be neglected.
As a Group ACTOM plays a role in all of the 5Ds. However, it is expected that Digitalisation can be a strong driver and must underpin the other initiatives. As an example, Decarbonisation can only be deemed effective if one has tools to measure the impact certain interventions make. These tools typically are found in the Digitalisation sphere.
We are keen to conduct business in all African countries and regions. We are mainly active in the SADC region, but have ventured into and concluded projects in countries such as Ethiopia, DRC, Mali, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.
The inevitable changes to the supply patterns that will come. The opportunities and development in this sector are endless. Although infrastructure has not been maintained and expansion is desperately needed, to be part of restoring and building this sector is an exciting prospect.
We particularly look forward to the restructuring of Eskom, the commissioning of self-generation projects up to 100MW by the private sector and the renewables roll out as part of the energy mix.
It is extremely costly to market products and services throughout Africa. The show brings customers to us. It is also an opportunity to see what our competitors are offering, what new developments are in the market, to engage with very diverse customer profiles across the entire energy supply value chain and it offers us an opportunity to show the sector our latest offerings. It is always nice to see new products, to see what competitors have that is new. Enlit Africa keeps you up to date with what is happening in terms of Energy.
We must all be working towards a better future for Africa and the world at large. Innovate, Innovate, Innovate.
ESI Africa, the continent’s leading news provider for power and energy news, is the official host publication.
Enlit Africa, previously known as Africa Utility Week and PowerGen Africa, is a multi-award-winning Cape Town-based exhibition and conference producer across the continent in the infrastructure, energy and mining sectors.
Enlit Africa dates and venues:
Venue: CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa
Website: www.enlit-africa.com
E-mail address: amelie.lozano@wearevuka.com
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