Localisation for Africa
The DTI Designation Process
Water Feed Pumps A specific type of pump used to feed water into a steam boiler. The water may be freshly supplied or returning condensate produced as a result of the condensation of the steam produced by the boiler. These pumps are normally high pressure units that take suction from a condensate return system and can be of the centrifugal pump type or positive displacement type.
Condensate Extraction Pumps An extraction pump is an important part of a feedwater system. It works as a tool for generating the required pressure, to deliver the feed water from a condenser a feed pump inlet. They are usually vertical shaft, two stage, centrifugal pumps, which are used in applications involving high pressure and high volume.
Water circulation pumps Circulating pumps are designed to circulate water back to the boiler after it has expelled some of its heat.
Drain Pumps – LP Heater, Condensate Tank and Process
A typical regenerative cycle includes a series of closed heaters located between the condensate pump and the boiler feed pump. Generally, the heater drains from these heaters are cascaded down to the lowest pressure heater in the system, from which they are pumped back into the condensate discharge header by a heater drain pump.
Eskom emphasised the importance of a cluster, stating its advantages as follows:
• One point of entry to Eskom in terms of informing and shaping localisation strategy.
• Commercial“ neutral” engagement between Eskom and industry.
• An opportunity to build on collective learning re localisation issues.
• One voice to Government regarding policy / supporting environment.
• A greater chance to draw in other major buyers.
• The cluster could serve as a possible technical working group with end users regarding specifications.
The dti to consider designation of pumps
The dti’ s Patrick Mbambo presented the dti’ s designation policies and processes in support of the cluster activities. The dti highlighted their approach and explained that they wish to leverage public procurement to:
• Preserve the current industrial capacity.
• Retain and create jobs and skilled labour force.
• Use current capabilities to increase industrial capacity.
• Attract investments to new industrial activities / sectors / components.
• Embed sustainable transformation.
• Use the captive home market to develop globally competitive local industries and new niche export opportunities.
The elected Cluster Steering Committee has now started managing government and Eskom to ensure that the designation opportunities benefit this important sector and sub-sectors.
The inaugural cluster meeting was facilitated by Richard Beän from the UNIDO SPX programme.
The UNIDO SPX programme will assist and support the cluster to profile the cluster members as well as to assess their capabilities.
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