The energy security of South Africa is a key focus area for government. While there has not been much movement when it comes to incentivising renewable energy locally, there are still several projects underway in the county, one of which was recently completed this month.
Said project is Bolobedu Solar Plant, which is a 148-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic facility in Limpopo province.
The plant was completed and commissioned by mineral resources company Rio Tinto, with it set to support Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), which is South Africa’s largest mineral sands producer and a subsidiary of the aforementioned Rio Tinto.
“The 20-year contract will supply approximately 300 gigawatt hours of renewable energy each year to RBM’s production facilities in KwaZulu-Natal,” the plant’s website explains.
“Its production will represent a volume equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 425,000 inhabitants, avoiding more than 237,000 tons of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to removing approximately 50,000 cars,” it added.
The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) also pointed out that during its construction phase, the project created employment opportunities for approximately 800 local residents. Furthermore, those involved with the project confirmed that local labour will be employed for operational monitoring of the plant moving forward.
“Government commends all stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of this project for prioritising local participation, and ensuring that communities benefit directly from infrastructure investments. Initiatives such as these play a vital role in addressing unemployment, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and building resilient local economies,” it shared in a statement, per SA News.
While this particular initiative is focused on supporting business entities in the region, more projects like this will go a long way to securing the country’s energy security.
“As South Africa continues to confront energy challenges, projects like the Bolobedu Solar Plant demonstrate the critical role of renewable energy in stabilising electricity supply, while advancing the country’s climate commitments,” government concluded.
[Image – Bolobedu Solar]
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Robin-Leigh Chetty
htxt.co.za
