The Tsumeb-based electricity infrastructure construction company Power Line Africa (Pty) Ltd has won a tender to construct and design a power line for the national power corporation worth over N$ 660 million, excluding taxes.
NamPower intends to construct a 400 KV power line from the Kokerboom substation near Keetmanshoop to the Auas substation near Dordabis.
The line is said to be a much needed bridge to help secure the supply of electricity to Namibia in future, and to open up opportunities for selling power to the Southern African Power Pool.
The contract period stretches over for 18 months and involves the design and construction of the Auas-Gerus transmission line.
Existing transmission power lines will remain operational during this period and into the future.
The line is expected to cover more than 800km, and will form part of NamPower's grid lines stretching across Namibia.
The awarding of the tender was announced by the Central Procurement Board of Namibia in last month.
According to the award notification, the multimillion dollar contract only attracted 5 companies.
This included Power Line Africa, Optipower (a division of Murray and Roberts Limited), Norinco International Corporation Limited, Transrail Lighting Limited, as well as a joint venture between Adaptive Building Land Construction CC and Sinohydro Corporation Limited.
3 of the 5 companies reportedly made it to the last stage, which then saw Power Africa ahead of China backed Synohydro-Adaptive Building JV and Norinco.
Central Procurement Board of Namibia spokesperson Johanna Kambala said the board received a request for reconsideration from JV Sinohydro Corporation Limited & Adaptive Building Land Construction CC, but found the request to be without merit and proceeded to award the contract.
NamPower owns a transmission system and network of between 132kV and 400kV of overhead power lines, spanning a distance of more than 25000 km - one of the longest in the world and enough to circle a continent.
According to the power corporation's website, the national grid has been home grown - designed and largely built by Namibian - and continuous investments are being made to toughen and keep it in a superior condition to ensure an efficient and effective network with minimum disruption.
The transmission line traverses the Khomas, Hardap and Kharas regions.