Picture: Supplied
KUMBA Iron Ore’s Sishen Mine has acquired five emergency power generators to contribute towards the energy requirements that will ensure that critical service delivery is not severely interrupted.
The intervention is seen as a measure to counteract the impact of load shedding on key community services.
It further highlights the need for a reliable and stable power source as not only key for economic activity to take root, but for communities to thrive.
This comes while the country grapples with the issue of rolling power outages and the effect on service delivery is greatly felt, especially at a local level.
The project was led by Sishen’s socio-economic development and engineering sections and began in 2022.
At a total cost of over R11 million, five generators - one 100kVA generator, three 250kVA and one 330kVA were contributed.
Electrical services’ section manager at Sishen Mine, Cynthia Phota, said vital service delivery areas that needed back-up power were identified.
The identified areas are the Khai Appel Pump Station, including building renovations, the Old Kathu Water Tower, the Kathu Water Treatment Plant, the Kathu Traffic Department and Lenmed Hospital.
Security measures will be put in place to deter vandalism and ensure continued and unabated emergency power supply to secure service delivery.
The mine’s corporate affairs and social performance manager, George Benjamin, explained that the intervention is about working towards common goals, with the aim to positively impact the daily lives of people within their communities.
“Partnering with local government and Lenmed Hospital to ensure service delivery and health services continuing to function with minimal interruption is key in building thriving communities,” said Benjamin.