By: Utilities Middle east

AMEA Power has commissioned its 120MWp solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in South Africa, marking a major milestone for the company’s renewable energy portfolio in the country.

The Doornhoek Solar PV Project is the first project under Bid Window 6 of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) to reach commercial operations.

Located near Klerksdorp in South Africa’s North West Province, the project will generate approximately 325GWh of clean electricity each year.

The plant is expected to supply power to around 97,000 households and offset more than 330,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

The $120m facility has reached commercial operation with AMEA Power acting as an independent power producer (IPP), in partnership with Ziyanda Energy and Dzimuzwo Energy, both of which are wholly owned by African women.

AMEA Power said the partnership reflects its commitment to inclusive economic participation and meaningful transformation within South Africa’s energy sector.

Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of AMEA Power, said the completion of the project is a significant milestone for the company and a meaningful contribution to South Africa’s energy transition objectives.

“As the first project under Bid Window 6 to reach this stage, it demonstrates what can be achieved through strong collaboration between government, financiers, and the private sector in delivering nationally prioritised infrastructure,” Al Nowais said.

Al Nowais added that South Africa is a key market for AMEA Power, where the company has an established local office serving the wider Southern African region.

“This project reflects our long-term commitment to the country and our ability to deliver complex utility-scale renewable energy projects with discipline, precision, and speed. It is now feeding reliable, clean electricity to the grid, strengthening energy security, and supporting tangible socio-economic development in local communities,” Al Nowais said.

The project was financed through $100m, or approximately ZAR 1.8bn, in debt provided by Standard Bank South Africa.

A further $8m, or approximately ZAR 150m, in equity funding was provided by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to support the participation of local partners.

As part of AMEA Power’s Community Investment and Development Programme, the company has implemented initiatives focused on education, skills development and support for vulnerable groups, including youth and elderly residents.

The company is also supporting local non-profit organisations (NPOs) through social enterprise and community cohesion initiatives, contributing to long-term socio-economic development in surrounding communities.

6 schools, 4 early childhood development (ECD) centres and 15 local NPOs are beneficiaries of AMEA Power’s education-focused initiatives.

At peak construction, the project employed approximately 1,050 people, supporting job creation in Klerksdorp and surrounding areas. The project also contributed to the upliftment of local businesses.

The successful delivery of the Doornhoek Solar PV Project marks AMEA Power’s first operational asset in South Africa and reinforces its growing footprint across Africa.

AMEA Power has also been awarded two additional projects through Bid Window 2 of South Africa’s Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP).

Both battery energy storage projects are located in the North West Province and will each have a capacity of more than 300MWh.