CASE STUDY

ENEO

ENEO partnered with Polesaver in 2016 with the objective of improving network reliability, reducing long-term maintenance and repair costs by reducing the likelihood of termite attack.

See how we fulfilled their objectives below

Challenges

Location

Cameroon

Customers

1 Million

Distribution Network

900MW

In Africa, high average temperatures combined with damp ground conditions and regular rainfall create the ideal conditions for wood decay and termite attack. Typically, decay rates can be up to five times greater than those seen in Northern Europe and North America. Even highly effective wood preservative such as CCA and creosote may only give an 8 to 15-year lifespan, significantly impacting pole maintenance and replacement costs. At Eneo, the pole material of choice is a Eucalyptus hardwood with a water-based copper preservative treatment.

Severe ground conditions across the country meant that the average pole life was only 6-8 years with a pole replacement rate of approximately 60,000 poles per year.

As a result, the significant financial burden of pole replacement costs was one of the driving factors for Eneo to seek out alternative infrastructure options.

Safety for Eneo employees, contractors and the community is the number one priority for the business and rigorous due diligence processes identified a need to improve Eneo’s safety record. The company’s distribution network relies on thousands of miles of wooden transmission poles, many of them of poor quality and hence subject to decay and termite attack in Cameroon’s tropical climate. This presented both a hazard to local communities and caused power loss to Eneo, also reducing the quality of service and increase the cost of electricity to customers.

Solution

To resolve these challenges, Polesaver proposed a comprehensive review of Eneo’s pole installation processes to fully understand their specific pain points and installation challenges.

Following this assessment, Polesaver provided industry best practice installation guidance and documentation to support proposed new procedures. In conjunction with the patented Polesaver sleeves, Eneo’s utility network would benefit from a substantial extension of the life of their poles with an expected life of 40 years or more whilst protecting the quality of service to its customers and significantly improving employee and community safety.

More than 100 Eneo team members completed Polesaver application training over multiple days, across both the Douala and Bafoussam network sites.

The purpose of the training was to demonstrate the correct method of applying a Polesaver sleeve to wooden utility poles. The team were given a practical demonstration of Polesaver sleeve application and during the course of the training, each delegate was given the opportunity to apply several sleeves to poles. Following training and assessment, staff issued with certificates of competency for correct application of sleeves

Results

Sleeves Fitted

1,000,000+

Yearly Cost Savings

$12 Million

Polesaver Is Now

Standard Fit

Polesaver has played a strong and active role in the implementation of a first-class solution for Eneo, leveraging the power of their product’s robust and innovative technical credentials and working side-by-side with Eneo to introduce industry best practice standards. By dealing with the key challenges faced by the business, the Polesaver solution has improved Eneo’s service network and enhanced the company’s own efficiency.

Through the implementation of the Polesaver sleeve solution, Polesaver brought an innovative solution to the business that now delivers both improved community and employee safety, improved network reliability, and significant cost savings of $12 million/year (over time).

The improved safety and reliability, and reduced pole maintenance and replacement costs realised by using Polesaver sleeves also, in turn, sees a significant reduction to Eneo’s environmental impact from their network maintenance. A considerable benefit as many countries look to meet global climate change targets.

Polesaver CEO, Richard George commented “Our sleeves are the only proven and independently tested product on the market that ensures pole strength is maintained over-time at the critical ground line section, and we’re proud to partner with Eneo to improve safety and deliver grid reliability for the people of Cameroon.” 

PRODUCT

Polesaver Sleeve

Polesaver ground-line barrier sleeves are a dual-layer, high-performance sleeve that prevents ground rot in wooden utility poles and gives an expected utility pole life of 50 years.

Learn More

PRODUCT

Polesaver Sleeve

Polesaver ground-line barrier sleeves are a dual-layer, high-performance sleeve that prevents ground rot in wooden utility poles and gives an expected utility pole life of 50 years.

Learn More

Do you think your utility could benefit from partnering with Polesaver?

Contact Us Today

Contact our team to discuss how your utility company and pole stock can benefit from partnering with Polesaver

Contact Us Today

Contact our team to discuss how your utility company and pole stock can benefit from partnering with Polesaver