South Africa: Ramaphosa Launches First Phase Of Seriti Green’s 10 Billion Rand Wind Project In Mpumalanga

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday unveiled a commemorative plaque marking the start of commercial operations at the Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Energy Facility in Bethal, Mpumalanga.

The first phase of the project comprises 155 megawatts (MW) of wind generation capacity and forms part of a planned 900 MW renewable energy programme.

The 10 billion rand (equivalent of $605,182,400.00) project, being developed by Seriti Green, is expected to increase renewable electricity generation capacity and strengthen South Africa’s power system.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Ramaphosa said the project demonstrated the value of partnerships between the government, state utility Eskom, the private sector and local communities.

He said the project highlighted the importance of creating meaningful local economic participation while ensuring surrounding communities benefited directly from the investment.

Ramaphosa said the project had created more than 1,000 jobs, with about half going to people living within a 10-kilometre radius of the site.

“I am told that more than 18,500 people have registered on the Seriti Green Skills Hub, where they will be able to access current and future opportunities,” he said.

“Many of the people who have worked on this project have brought valuable skills developed in the mining industry into the construction of South Africa’s next generation of energy infrastructure,” he added.

Ramaphosa said the government had made it clear that the country’s energy transition should be just, inclusive and leave no one behind.

He said South Africa’s transition to cleaner energy was being implemented through practical measures aligned with both domestic and international commitments.

“It should strengthen local businesses, equip young people with new skills and leave communities stronger than before,” he said.

Ramaphosa said that with rolling power cuts, locally known as load shedding, which had constrained economic growth for more than a decade now largely over, progress was also being made in addressing load reduction in several provinces, including Mpumalanga.

He said reforms in the electricity sector were aimed at delivering a reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity supply for all South Africans.