ACTOM Distribution Transformers recently secured an order for the supply of its neutral electromagnetic couplers with earthing resistors and an auxiliary transformer (NECRTs) to the Kamoa copper mine, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

ACTOM Distribution Transformers CEO Lee Mbenge says NECRTs play a crucial role in grounding collector power transformers in substations. These substations facilitate the transmission of power generated by renewable energy plants into the national grid.

The Kamoa mine is one of the biggest producers of ultrahigh-grade copper in the DRC and is powered by hydroelectricity produced by the Mwadingusha Hydroelectric Plant, which was rehabilitated and modernised in 2021.

Last year, ACTOM Distribution Transformers completed an order for NECRTs worth more than R10-million for the mine.

“The latest order allows us to strengthen our footprint in Africa, positioning us as not only the dominant NECRT supplier in South Africa but also throughout the continent.

“The lessons that we learned were largely related to strengthening the active parts – internal design – and mechanical integrity, as NECRT units are often transported by road and take a tremendous battering by the time they arrive at a customer’s site.

“This prompted us to make various improvements to our NECRT product range, resulting in a robust and fail-safe design that is suitable for all applications and hostile environments. As a result, our NECRT units have performed better than those of various international suppliers, which are prone to failure,” says Mbenge.

Mbenge notes that cross-border demand for ACTOM Distribution Transformers’ NECRT units has been increasing steadily and the business is now supplying these products to Namibia, Lesotho and Zambia.

“The latest order from Kamoa highlights the strength of the ACTOM brand in the design and manufacture of NECRTs and transformers. This will allow us to become further entrenched in the renewable energy market where we would like to be more dominant,” he adds.