Construction World September 2018

ALTERNATE POWER SOLUTIONS

Welcoming return of RENEWABLE ENERGY

The long-awaited signing earlier this year of power offtake agreements with independent power producers is likely to boost Raubex Infra’s contribution in the renewable energy sector, according to managing director Ean Steenkamp.

R aubex Infra had previously been involved in renewable energy projects as part of the government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). “We are looking forward to our increased participation in this exciting sector, making our expertise available to photovoltaic energy projects, concentrated solar power projects and wind energy projects among others,” says Steenkamp. Providing a range of infrastructure ser- vices from civils and electrical to telecom- munications and rail, Raubex Infra specialis- es in executing turnkey projects. These are often in niche areas with demanding time constraints and technical complexities. Among its recent work in solar power was a contract to drill and cast 28 000 concrete piles for solar field foundations in the Northern Cape. The contract required regular, reinforced and drive piles, and consumed 3 000 m 3 of concrete footing. The company was also responsible for the electrical, instrumentation and control installation on this project. This included almost 15 000 m 3 of civils works and trenching, as well as laying and termi- nating 211 000 metre of fibre and ethernet cables. Medium voltage and low voltage cables were also laid and terminated. “Our experience allows us to undertake

projects of various sizes in South Africa and across border,” Steenkamp says. A recent project completed in Lesotho was the turnkey installation of a 105 kW rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system. This included mechanical installation of substruc- tures, modules, cabling, inverters and control systems through to final commissioning. As an example of a smaller project, Steenkamp says Raubex Infra recently designed, supplied, installed and commis- sioned a 64 kW ground-mounted PV system in Boksburg, Gauteng. “Our capabilities and flexibility enable us to meet market requirements, and over the last couple of years we have been extensive- ly involved in civils work including streets, sidewalks, bulk water facilities and telecom- munications installations,” he says. Raubex Infra’s civils division is currently constructing the street network and water reticulation system for the second phase of the upmarket Woodlands Hills residential development in Bloemfontein. In addition to the civils services, the company will upgrade the provincial access road to facilitate direct access to the development’s Bergendal Gate. This project includes 21 000 m 3 of mass earthworks, 22 000 m 3 of layer works, and 6 300 m 3 of trench excavation. Rocky conditions on surface required extensive blasting in the early months of the contract. Excavation is also necessary for slabs and

Raubex Infra constructed a 105 kW rooftop PV system for Vodacom in Lesotho.

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD SEPTEMBER 2018