OREANDA-NEWS. ENGIE, through its subsidiary Aurora Wind Power, inaugurates today the 94 MW West Coast One wind farm in South Africa’s Western Cape Province. Aurora Wind Power is owned by ENGIE (43%) and its South African partners Investec Bank Limited (34.5%) and KTH (20%). The remaining 2.5% has been allocated to a Community Trust, for the purpose of developing and sustaining the surrounding community. Gerard Mestrallet, Chairman and CEO of ENGIE: “South Africa is a key growth region on the African continent where ENGIE has an established presence with 460 MW in operation, 700 MW under construction and a substantial development pipeline.  We have the ambition to remain South Africa’s leading IPP, focusing on clean and renewable energy to contribute to the sustainable economic development of the country and its people.”

West Coast 1 will allow for the offset of an estimated 5.6 million tonnes of CO2 over the 20-year duration of its Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The project is part of South Africa’s successful Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPPP) programme to help curb its reliance on coal for electricity and contribute towards carbon emission reduction objectives. To date, the country has procured more than 5,000 MW from solar and wind projects out of the 7,000 MW of renewable energy projects initially planned by the end of 2016. The government recently announced that it wants to add an additional 6,300MW to the programme.

West Coast 1 achieved commercial operation of the forty seven 2 MW wind turbines on schedule in June 2015. Total investment was approximately 200 million USD, with debt financing by a group of South African banks. The project represents a significant commitment in social programs, for which Aurora Wind Power has engaged with the local communities through long-term partnerships with local NGOs.

ENGIE is South Africa’s leading Independent Power Producer with ca. 460 MW power in operation, 700 MW under construction and a 100 MW solar CSP project ( Kathu) in the Northern Cape Province in final phase of development.

On 11 November, the Group submitted another 1,000 MW of renewable projects under the REIPPP programme either in joint venture or through its subsidiary SolaireDirect. The latter has developed two solar PV projects, totalling 21 MW, in the Western Cape Province, close to the West Coast 1 wind farm.

The ENGIE Foundation in cooperation with its partners La Voix de l’Enfant, O’Sun, and Valued Citizens Initiative also launched Schools, Lights & Rights, on Friday, November 27. The programme aims to widen children’s access to electricity, education, and legal protection by electrifying schools and shelters, distributing             5,000 portable solar lamps, and registering 5,000 children with government offices.