The Gauteng provincial government in South Africa is moving ahead with a new 800 MW solar project.
According to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, six independent power producers have been appointed to develop the installation. The board of Sibanye-Stillwater, a South African mining and metals processing group, has approved the land leases.
State-owned utility City Power is implementing the initiative, which is expected to add at least 100 MW to the grid from April, with a further 300 MW expansion anticipated in the next financial year.
The news comes as South Africa continues to grapple with grid constraints, which are causing load-shedding across the country.
Speaking at a State of the Province Address on Feb. 19, Lesufi said that the “protracted electricity crisis has caused significant hardship for people in our province and has had a detrimental effect on the growth of Gauteng’s economy.”
He added that power shortages are having a negative impact on the availability of health care services, food and water.
The Gauteng provincial government, together with state-owned utility Eskom and City Power, plans to deliver 429 transformers to communities to ease load-shedding. To date, 333 have already been installed and switched on, which the provincial government says has helped around 32,000 households.
“Although energy is not a competency of the province, load shedding’s crippling effect on the functionality of the state and its impact on broader society compelled us to intervene,” said Lesufi.
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