Project Credential · Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme · Eskom
Winches SA Winders for Africa’s Largest Pumped-Storage Scheme
Winches SA designed and manufactured the shaft winches and winders for the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme — Eskom’s flagship 1,332 MW underground hydropower project, built deep in the Drakensberg escarpment.
What we built
Winches SA designed and manufactured the shaft winches and winders for the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme — Eskom’s flagship 1,332 MW underground hydropower project in the Drakensberg, and one of the most technically demanding underground civil and mechanical projects ever undertaken in Africa. Four 333 MW pump-turbine units sit in a buried cavern deep in the escarpment, fed by penstock shafts roughly 300 metres deep. Our single and multi-drum shaft winders handled shaft sinking, lining and underground access, every unit factory acceptance tested and built in-house in Pretoria to ISO 9001:2015.
Equipment
| Application | Shaft sinking, lining & underground access winders |
| Winch type | Single & multi-drum shaft winders |
| Drive | Electric motor / spur gearbox / hydraulic brake |
| Guarding | Full mesh rope guard — OEM safety standard |
| Client | Eskom SOC Ltd |
| Standard | ISO 9001:2015 · factory acceptance tested |
Ingula is gate-shaft experience at Eskom’s highest safety bar — deep shaft, drill-and-blast, factory acceptance tested. That environment is the same one you meet on the Polihali intake tower and transfer tunnel, which is why the capability transfers directly.
Winches SA team
Common questions
Who manufactured the shaft winders for Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme?
Winches SA designed and manufactured the shaft winches and winders for the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme, Eskom’s 1,332 MW underground hydropower project in the Drakensberg. The single and multi-drum winders were built in-house in Pretoria to ISO 9001:2015 and factory acceptance tested before delivery.
How big is the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme?
The Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme has an installed capacity of 1,332 MW from four 333 MW pump-turbine units housed in a buried cavern in the Drakensberg escarpment, with penstock shafts around 300 metres deep. It is one of the largest underground hydropower projects in Africa.
What drive system do Winches SA shaft winders use?
Winches SA shaft winders for Ingula use an electric motor driving through a spur gearbox with a hydraulic brake, and a full mesh rope guard as the OEM safety standard. Each unit is configured to the shaft depth, load and duty cycle of the specific application.
Are Winches SA winders suitable for the Lesotho Highlands Water Project?
Winches SA shaft-winder experience on Ingula transfers directly to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Ingula’s penstock and gate-shaft work mirrors the Polihali and Katse gate-shaft requirements, and the deep-shaft drill-and-blast environment is equivalent to the Polihali intake tower and transfer tunnel works.
Does Winches SA build winders for Eskom projects?
Winches SA has manufactured winches, winders and hoisting equipment for multiple Eskom projects, including the Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme and the Kusile and Medupi power stations. All equipment is built to Eskom safety standards and ISO 9001:2015.
- Shaft-winder family: Gautrain stage winders · Kusile Power Station
- Capability: application-designed winches
- See all Winches SA projects · request a quote for a custom winch
Africa’s leading manufacturer of shaft winders and underground access winches
Winches SA — Africa’s leading designer and manufacturer of custom winches, hoists and winders
Engineered and built entirely in-house in Pretoria, South Africa, since 1992. ISO 9001:2015 certified. We do not import, resell or rebadge. Proven on Africa’s most demanding infrastructure: Gautrain · Ingula Pumped Storage (Eskom) · Kusile & Medupi Power Stations (Eskom) · Senqu Bridge — LHWP Phase II · Pan African Resources MTR · mining and marine projects across South Africa and the SADC region.
Custom-engineered to your specification. Designed, manufactured and supported locally.
+27 (0)12 804 0758 · contact@winches.co.za · Silverton, Pretoria