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NORTHERN CAPE IS AFRICA’S KING OF SOLAR

PHOTO CREDIT Monwabisi Nkompela: Northern Cape Is Africa's King Of Solar - Minister Radebe
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Minister of Energy Jeff Radebe has unveiled the Xina Solar One Concentrated Solar Plant (CSP) Project near Pofadder, praising the Northern Cape as “South Africa’s Solar Mecca,” “Solar Capital” and “Africa’s Solar King.” The province now boasts its seventh CPS plant, with four dotting Pofadder’s landscape and an array of other renewable energy projects that are also wind and hydro based.

Minister of Energy Jeff Radebe and Premier Sylvia Lucas

“This sun-drenched paradise is home to 31 of the (South African) 62 operational projects which have so far contributed to a total of 1 925 Megawatt (MW) to the national grid,” said Minister Radebe at the event, this past Friday.

The storage friendly Xina Solar One which is worth six billion-rand, is a 100MW project that bears the capacity to supply electricity to 95 000 households.

His emphasis of the Northern Cape’s solar acclaim, spelt out sunshine over his support for the sector in the wake of assuming office in February this year.

“Today it is indeed my pleasure to be part of this important event because it represents a critical step towards attaining increased energy security, as well as, assisting our country in achieving our ambition to reduce carbon emissions in order to save the planet and leave a legacy for our children.”

In offsetting criticisms meted out against renewable energy projects being perceived as multinational owned companies that are financially draining energy giant Eskom, Minister Radebe explained that the project will create black industrialists, with black people owning 20 percent of its shares and 40 percent having been earmarked for local manufacturing.

The Minister was accompanied by Premier Sylvia Lucas and public office bearers from the district and local municipality.