Uni-cable successfully supplied and installed its MVCC (Medium Voltage Covered Conductor) and MVC (Medium Voltage Concentric Conductor) systems for Eskom Holdings, South Africa's national power utility, as part of their rural electrification and grid modernization program.

Key Project Details
Location: Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, South Africa
Project Duration: 2022-2023
Conductor Type: MVCC-22kV, 240mm² AAAC with XLPE insulation
Total Length Installed: 150 km
Technical Specifications
Product Features
Voltage Rating: 22kV
Conductor Material: AAAC (All Aluminum Alloy Conductor)
Insulation System:
Inner layer: XLPE insulation (3.4mm)
Outer layer: HDPE weather-resistant sheath (2.0mm)
Temperature Rating: -40°C to +90°C continuous operation
Short Circuit Rating: 16kA for 1 second

Comparative Advantages

Implementation Process
Phase 1: Site Assessment (Q1 2022)
Conducted joint surveys with Eskom engineers
Identified 27 high-fault locations for priority replacement
Customized conductor design for local conditions

Phase 2: Pilot Installation (Q2 2022)
Installed 15km test section
Monitored performance through rainy season
Achieved 100% fault-free operation during trial period

Phase 3: Full Deployment (Q3 2022-Q1 2023)
Rolled out complete 150km installation
Trained 45 Eskom technicians on installation best practices
Implemented quality control checkpoints every 5km

Performance Results
Operational Metrics (12-Month Post-Installation)
System Availability: Increased from 92.3% to 99.1%

Fault Rate: Reduced from 4.2/km/year to 1.1/km/year

Maintenance Costs: Decreased by 60%

Energy Losses: Reduced from 8.7% to 6.2%

Export Logistics

Shipping Details

Supply Chain Management
Just-in-Time Delivery: Matched installation schedule within ±3 days
Inventory Management: Established local buffer stock in Johannesburg
Documentation: Provided full traceability from manufacturing to installation

Customer Benefits
Reliability Improvement
Eliminated 83% of vegetation-related outages
Reduced average outage duration from 4.5 hours to 1.2 hours

Safety Enhancements
Zero reported electrocution incidents post-installation
Reduced bush fire incidents by 68%
Lessons Learned

Local Adaptation
Modified sheath color for better visibility in African bushveld
Adjusted clamping systems for local pole types

Installation Efficiency
Developed specialized tensioning tools for faster stringing
Created bilingual (English/Zulu) installation manuals

Future Collaboration
Eskom has approved Uni-cable as a preferred supplier for:
Phase 2 expansion (additional 300km)
33kV upgrade projects
Coastal corrosion-resistant variant development

Uni-cable's ability to deliver tailored, high-performance medium voltage solutions that address specific regional challenges while meeting international quality standards. The project has become a benchmark for covered conductor applications in sub-Saharan Africa.