By: Green Building Africa

South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), in partnership with Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the development of a comprehensive feasibility study and business case for a 100MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project in the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Eastern Cape.

The 100MW Solar PV facility will be split and located in the following proposed locations:
80MW solar PV facility in the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ)
20MW solar PV facility in the Nelson Mandela Bay Logistics Park
ISA, a central government agency mandated by the Infrastructure Development Act (Act 23 of 2014), is responsible for coordinating and advancing South Africa’s national infrastructure investment programme. Its mandate includes accelerating the planning and implementation of strategic infrastructure projects considered vital to the country’s economic and social development.

The proposed 100MW Solar PV project, led by the Coega Development Corporation (CDC), is one of seven major infrastructure initiatives unveiled by ISA during the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) in May 2025. Together, these projects are expected to stimulate both public and private investment across sectors including energy, transport, water, and social infrastructure.

Headquartered in Gqeberha within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the CDC manages the 9 003-hectare Coega SEZ, a major industrial and transshipment hub positioned as a premier investment destination on the African continent. With 67 operational investors representing R12.4 billion in investment and over 11 000 jobs, the SEZ continues to expand its industrial and logistics capabilities. The CDC also operates the Nelson Mandela Bay Logistics Park (NMBLP) in Kariega, which supports the Volkswagen South Africa plant and surrounding automotive suppliers.

As part of its growth strategy, the CDC has identified significant potential for renewable energy generation within its facilities. The organisation is exploring opportunities in rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV to diversify the local energy mix, improve energy security, and provide distributed and off-grid electricity solutions. The availability of suitable land, an established customer base, a robust distribution network, and the ability to wheel electricity to external clients make the Coega SEZ an ideal location for such a development.

The planned 100MW solar project will be divided across two sites: an 80MW installation within the Coega SEZ and a 20MW installation at the NMB Logistics Park. Expected off-takers include existing SEZ tenants, companies based at the logistics park, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, electricity traders, and private firms in the wider region.

The IDC has invited qualified bidders to submit proposals to conduct the full feasibility study and prepare a bankable business case for the project.