The Ingula pumped storage scheme in the Little Drakensberg escarpment in KwaZulu-Natal consists of an upper and a lower dam, each capable of holding about 22 million m3 of water. The two dams are 4,6 km apart and are connected by underground waterways that pass through a subterranean powerhouse with four 333 MW generators.
To generate electricity during times of peak demand, water is released from the upper dam, passing through the pump and turbines into the lower dam. During periods of reduced energy demand, the water is pumped from the lower back to the upper dam.
Periodic inspection of the four units by specialised structural, civil or mechanical teams requires rope access and confined-space standby rescue. Both of these services were provided by rope-access specialist Skyriders after being awarded a contract for all four units in 2020, according to the company’s marketing manager Mike Zinn.
The fact that the specialists themselves do not necessarily have any rope-access experience means that Skyriders deploys some of its highest qualified and most experienced technicians to provide the necessary assistance and access.
Describing Ingula as one of the most challenging industrial environments that Skyriders has been involved with to date, Zinn adds that the contract has been a significant extension of the inspection, repair and access work that Skyriders has carried out for electricity utility Eskom over the years at the bulk of its power-station fleet.
Contact Mike Zinn, Skyriders, Tel 011 312-1418, mike@ropeaccess.co.za www.ropeaccess.co.za
