Renewable energy project leads to MoU between the Eastern, Northern Cape

The provincial governments of the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which creates a long-term inter-provincial cooperative framework. This initiative was stimulated by the Koruson renewable energy development, which straddles the border between the two provinces. The MoU will support interprovincial cooperation in renewable-energy projects, sustainable development and economic growth.

Koruson is being developed by France-based energy company EDF Power Solutions and South African renewable energy company Envusa Energy (itself a joint venture between Anglo American and EDF Power Solutions). The development involves two projects, Koruson 1 and Koruson 2.

Koruson 1 has a total generating capacity of 420 MW and is composed of the Coleskop, Phezukomoya and Sankraal wind farms, each with a capacity of 140 MW. It includes a 1.5 GW Main Transmission Station. Koruson 1 is led by EDF Power Solutions, with, as South African partners, clean energy investment company H1 Holdings, engineering consultancy Gibb-Crede and a local community trust. Its wind farms are located outside Middelburg and Noupoort.

Koruson 2 is led by Envusa Energy, with, as local partners, renewable-energy company Pele Green Energy and a community trust. It comprises two wind farms and a solar PV plant, located in the Hydra supply area. It has a total generating capacity of 520 MW. The wind farms, Hartebeesthoek and Umsobomvu, each have a capacity of 140 MW. The Mooi Plaats solar PV plant has a capacity of 240 MW. Koruson 2 is connected to private offtakers through a 400 kV Main Transmission Substation that was developed as part of the Koruson 1 project.

“The projects will go a long way to help government’s efforts of energy security in South Africa and in the two provinces in particular,” highlighted Northern Cape Office of the Premier director-general Advocate Justice Bekebeke. “The development of renewable-energy infrastructure will ensure that loadshedding and electricity reduction are things of the past.”

The framework created by the MoU covers cooperation on community development, stakeholder engagement and security, safety and emergency response matters (which might require joint action by the two provinces). It will allow the coordination of the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of development initiatives that embrace communities in both provinces.

It also facilitates the proposed consolidated Koruson Trust, by which EDF Power Solutions and Envusa will optimise and align development initiatives and resources across the trans-boundary area in which their projects lie. These initiatives are focused on agriculture and community capacity building (including livestock development programmes for emerging farmers), enterprise development (aimed at small, medium-sized and microenterprises), healthcare (including the training of Community Health Ambassadors) and youth development (including skills development and job creation).

“We welcome the investment because it brings opportunities for economic growth, infrastructure development, skills development, local enterprise participation and long-term community benefit,” affirmed Eastern Cape Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism MEC Nonkqubela Pieters. “Success cannot be measured only in megawatts generated or infrastructure installed, it must ultimately be measured by whether communities experience real and lasting development outcomes.”