By:Chinaglobalsouth

A Chinese consortium is developing a 100-megawatt solar power project in South Africa’s Limpopo Province to provide renewable energy to Samancor Chrome, one of the region’s largest minerals-processing companies.

The project is a partnership between Samancor, CGN Africa Energy—a Chinese company specializing in non-nuclear power generation—and the China-Africa Development Fund, a state-backed venture that supports Chinese investments in Africa. The solar plant will be built in two phases, with the first 60 megawatts scheduled for completion ahead of the full 100-megawatt capacity.

At full capacity, this power is enough to power 80,000 average homes in South Africa.

Touted as the largest privately owned renewable energy project in South Africa to secure a power purchase agreement with the country’s utility Eskom, the initiative aims to ensure a stable power supply for Samancor Chrome’s Tubatse ferrochrome smelter, which currently relies on electricity from the national grid.

The shift to solar will significantly lower the smelter’s energy costs while reducing its carbon footprint. About 85 percent of South Africa’s electricity is generated from coal, making the transition to renewables essential for cutting emissions.

The project aligns with South Africa’s broader push toward green energy. The country’s power capacity is expected to grow by nearly 4 gigawatts in the coming years, driven largely by the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) and regulatory changes that lifted licensing caps for private power producers.

Under the Just Energy Transition Partnership, which REIPPP is a key part of, South Africa plans to retire and repurpose outdated coal-fired plants, aiming to reduce coal-based power generation by 2032.

Seven coal-fired power stations will be decommissioned by then, reflecting the country’s commitment to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.