2. TECHNICAL DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT ... - Eskom

Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed construction of a 400 kV Transmission power line
between Mercury Substation and Ferrum Substation traversing the Free State, North West and
Northern Cape Provinces
line of the road. The minimum distance between any part of a tree or shrub and
any bare phase conductor of a 400 kV Transmission power line must be 5,6 m.
On receipt of an approval of the final route by the environmental authorities and
after negotiations with landowners, the final position of the centre line for the
Transmission power line and co-ordinates of each bend in the power line will be
determined by the surveyors. Optimal tower sizes and positions will be identified
and verified using a ground survey [in terms of the Environmental Management
Plan (EMP) requirements].
An 8 m-wide strip is generally required to be cleared of all trees and shrubs down
the centre of a Transmission power line servitude for stringing purposes only.
Any tree or shrub in other areas that will interfere with the operation and/or
reliability of the Transmission power line must be trimmed or completely cleared.
Vegetation clearance for the proposed Mercury-Ferrum 400 kV Transmission
power line will be minimal due to the characteristic low-growing plant species
predominant in the study area. The clearing of vegetation will take place, with
the aid of a surveyor, along approved profiles and in accordance with the
approved EMP, and in accordance with the minimum standards to be used for
vegetation clearing for the construction of the proposed new Transmission power
line as listed below in Table 2.1 (Eskom, 2000).
Figure 2.4: Servitude requirements in terms of vegetation clearing under
conductors and minimum ground clearance
Examples of vegetation clearing are represented in Figures 2.5 and 2.6 below:
Technical Details 2-4 16/04/2007