By: Green Building Africa

Bela Bela, Limpopo – Sturdee Energy has achieved financial close for the 91.2 MW Bela Bela Solar Park, a R2 billion project in Limpopo Province. This milestone allows construction to begin immediately on a facility that will supply clean energy to a prominent South African gold mining company. The achievement also expands Sturdee's portfolio of projects under construction and in operation to over 200 MW across three Southern African countries.

The solar park will supply power through a five-year power purchase agreement, wheeled via Eskom's grid to multiple mining and smelting operations. This partnership model provides mining companies with flexible access to renewable energy, helping them reduce carbon emissions and meet sustainability goals.

The project will feature advanced JA Solar modules, GameChange single-axis trackers, and Sungrow inverters to maximize energy generation. Cox Energy South Africa, a subsidiary of the Spanish Coxabengoa Group, has been appointed as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor.

The project's R1.2 billion in debt funding was secured from Rand Merchant Bank through a non-recourse project finance facility, signaling strong investor confidence. Once operational, the Bela Bela Solar Park is projected to generate approximately 209 GWh of electricity annually, offsetting about 170,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year. Over its 30-year lifespan, this will amount to a reduction of nearly 4 million tonnes of carbon emissions.

Sturdee's Executive Directors, James White and Andrew Johnson, hailed the project as a defining moment for the company and a significant contribution to South Africa's energy transition.