Enabling access to South Africa’s growing renewable energy generation capacity by addressing its transmission network constraints is a vital step in advancing the country’s energy transition. The delivery of the Impofu wind farms transmission line project in the Eastern Cape ahead of schedule, is a critical milestone in this regard.

Electrical infrastructure contractor Siyavuya Power Projects CEO Graham Roebuck says this feat demonstrates that local contractors have the capability to effectively build large, complex power infrastructure despite ongoing concerns about national capacity.

Siyavuya concluded the 116 km Impofu transmission line project in October 2025 over 16 months, despite challenging conditions.

“There was no space to build this power line… we had to replace two single circuits with twin conductors and fit a double-circuit twin-turn line in the same servitude… it took quite a bit of engineering,” explains Roebuck.

Driven by renewable-energy developer Red Cap and multinational renewable-energy corporation Enel Green Power, the project will enable access to 1 030 GWh/y generated by the Impofu wind farms.

Comprising double-circuit 132 kV line, the Impofu transmission line project has been described as South Africa’s longest privately permitted power line for a renewable-energy project and is the largest such line built worldwide by Enel Green Power.

Roebuck says the project was particularly significant, not only for its scope but for Siyavuya’s ability to design, type-test and manufacture all 500 transmission towers in-house. The company acquired and expanded a struggling East London steel fabrication business to ensure secure tower supply following years of volatility in the fabrication sector.

Construction of the Impofu line also required navigating complex landowner dynamics – with many difficult and different owners, including municipalities, forestry areas and communities – alongside engineering obstacles such as restricted servitudes, wildlife reserves, mountainous terrain, sand dunes, wetlands and cobblestone zones.

“Access was almost impossible… we had to use a lot of alternative construction methods, including putting up towers by hand because we couldn’t get cranes in,” elaborates Roebuck.

Heavy rains added additional engineering and financial obstacles with soil conditions transformed mid-project. A foot-and-mouth disease outbreak later halted work for three months. Roebuck says such delays created significant pressures for a company that remains owner-managed and bound by stringent performance guarantees.

“Nonetheless, the official contract time was 16-and-a-half months, and we did it in 16 months,” Roebuck highlighted, crediting limited notices to proceed and strong cooperation from State-owned power utility Eskom’s Southern Region team.

Both construction and final documentation were completed within deadline, which is rare when dealing with complex transmission projects such as this, he added.

Beyond Impofu, Siyavuya is executing multiple large contracts, including traction substations and transmission lines for State-owned company Transnet’s Sishen–Saldanha corridor, the Aries-Kronos-Hydra 400 kV line from the Northern Cape and Norwegian renewable-energy group Scatec’s Mogobe battery energy storage project. Siyavuya is also delivering electrical infrastructure for independent power producer G7 Renewable Energies’ Karreebosch Wind Farm and the Peddie Pembroke break and build132KV powerline for NOA Windgarden project , among other projects.

The Origin Story

Siyavuya was established in 1994, when Roebuck and fellow founder Wayne Nash were part of a construction crew building a power line between the Colley Wobbles hydroelectric power station and the town of Willowvale in the Eastern Cape three months ahead of schedule. Pleased with the work, Eskom awarded the company the contract to electrify Willowvale. However, Roebuck, then 22, and the entire crew were dismissed by the contractor for leaving the area and coming home for December holidays without permission – an event that was the catalyst for the future business.

Sitting in a pub in Queenstown after being dismissed, Roebuck and Nash struck a deal with a man in the pub on the back of a matchbox to finalise an Eskom construction project before Christmas – as part of the transition to the country’s then new administration. The successful completion of the project came with Eskom honouring a commitment to award them four transformer-area projects the following year.

Roebuck says South Africa’s electrification programme rapidly expanded after 1994, with only a handful of contractors initially available in the Eastern Cape. Siyavuya grew quickly, and so did its competition, yet the company continued securing and delivering major projects.

Today, Siyavuya employs 900 workers on large projects and more than 1 500 across the group. Roebuck cites the Industrial Development Corporation as a crucial strategic funder, supporting investments in steel fabrication, galvanising, logistics and equipment needed for the company’s vertically integrated model. This integration, he says, allows Siyavuya to control procurement, rapidly shift manufacturing priorities to align with that of its clients and maintain efficiency across project sites.

Looking ahead, Roebuck says Siyavuya expects significant opportunities from Eskom’s transmission expansion programme, comprising 460 km of 765 kV line. The company is also preparing for the upcoming infrastructure procurement process, following indications that engineering, procurement and construction contractors will be brought into the second phase of the framework.

“From where we started to where we’re going now, the same success will be achieved. People think there’s no capacity locally to deliver the transmission expansion programme and it can’t be done. I honestly believe it can be done and Siyavuya will be at the forefront, proving so.”