Gauteng government signs deal for 800MW solar farm to combat province's energy challenges and ease load shedding.that will be developed in Merafong on the West Rand will mitigate the burden of load shedding in the province, Mzikayifani Khumalo, Gauteng MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs , says.
As of last year, SA had more than 2 700MW of installed photovoltaic solar power on its grid, with the installed capacity expected to reach 8 400MW by 2030.“Energy is an essential component of our economy and ensuring that the nation’s economic hub has a reliable energy supply is vital for economic growth, employment creation and cushioning its residents, especially impoverished households, from load shedding,” said Khumalo.
The founding partners of the company are the Far West Rand Dolomitic Water Association, Sibanye-Stillwater, West Rand district municipality and the Gauteng Infrastructure Financial Agency, according to Khumalo.He said the project would be developed on 1 600 hectares of land that has been donated by Sibanye-Stillwater.
Gauteng MEC for finance Jacob Mamabolo said it was a good template for what the public-private partnerships could achieve to “revitalise the economically distressed regions of the province and the country in general”.