Mainstream kicks off construction of 280 MW wind farms in S Africa

Ireland's Mainstream Renewable Power today said construction has been initiated at the Khobab and Loeriesfontein wind farms in South Africa, each of 140 MW.

The projects, located in the Hantam Municipality of Northern Cape, represent a combined investment of ZAR 7 billion (USD 513m/EUR 458m). The wind parks will use turbines made by Siemens Wind Power and towers produced at Gestamp’s factory in the Western Cape.

The two wind farms are planned to be operational by December 2017. They were among the winning projects in the third round of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPP).

In July, Mainstream also started construction of the 80-MW Noupoort wind park in the same South African province. This farm and the Khobab and Loeriesfontein sites are owned by a consortium led by Lekela Power, which is a 60/40 joint venture between private equity firm Actis and Mainstream, and several other partners.

Lekela aims to install 1 GW of wind and solar parks across Africa in the next five years. Apart from South Africa, it also has projects in Ghana and Egypt.

(ZAR 10 = USD 0.733/EUR 0.655)

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