First private coal power station bidders announced
Private bidders Thabametsi and Khanyisa won the first bid window to build South Africa’s first independent coal-fired power stations, Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson said on Monday at a media briefing in Cape Town.
The Coal Independent Power Producers (IPP) Programme is the first baseload energy programme which allows the private sector to provide coal-generated energy.
Thabametsi, based in Limpopo, and Khanyisa, based in Mpumalanga, will collectively provide 863.3MW of coal-generated power to South Africa’s grid within the next five years.
“Khanyisa is expected to begin commercial operation in December 2020, while Thabametsi will follow closely with generation in March 2021,” Joemat-Pettersson said.
She added that although South Africa’s energy build plan still incorporates the development of fossil fuel power stations in the foreseeable future, the country remains committed to transition to low-carbon economy. “We are already seeking ways and new technologies to use fossil fuels with minimal carbon emissions.”
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