Rhino and Buffalo, NamPower’s new and eagerly awaited mobile substations, rated 20MVA with multiple voltage ratios of 132/66kV to 33/11kV and 132/66kV to 22/11kV respectively, are fast on their way to their destination, Namibia.
The two mobile substations, Rhino and Buffalo have been named after the Big Five, because they are moving substations. The current small mobile (10Mva) was renamed Lion and next in line might be a (40MW) Elephant on the cards.
NamPower first embarked on the Mobile Substations Project in 2018, with the main objective of providing security of supply during transformer failure at a substation by enabling restoration of the power supply. In addition to this benefit, the mobile substations will be used to facilitate an alternative temporary power supply where new installations, maintenance or upgrading must be conducted.
Rhino and Buffalo will also support NamPower in providing a temporary point of supply to major customers within a significantly shorter period than would normally be required to provide a permanent supply.
After contending with procurement hurdles and the disruptions brought about by Covid-19, as well as many other challenges, the two mobile substations are finally on their way to Namibia.
“We trust in a well-planned and secure journey spanning 1,400 km. After being asked countless times by curious—and often amused—stakeholders, “So, when will the mobiles arrive?” the answer is: very soon,” said project leader, Elsebi Gadney.
Gadney says, the two substations which departed on March 25, 2025, from Benoni in South Africa, faced one final challenge - a fallen bridge 15 km before Windhoek, on the Rehoboth Road. However, the duo rerouted through Botswana to reach Namibia.
“The mobiles were already on the Namibian border last night around 7:29 pm. At a speed of 40km/h it is estimated to take about ten days, permitted no challenges are experienced along the remaining stretch through Namibia,” Gadney added.
Once offloaded from the truck which brought it into Namibia, NamPower will be using its own Volvo FH520 truck, as the trailers were designed to interface with NamPower’s specific truck.