Cape Town - Driver Trett South Africa, the local subsidiary of the international Driver Group of companies, is pleased to announce its appointment by the International Power Consortium South Africa (IPCSA) to deliver specific project advisory and project management services for the new privately owned Saldanha gas-fired power plant.

Initiated by IPCSA in 2012 with a view to provide a comprehensive solution to ArcelorMittal Saldanha Steel to sustain its business beyond 2019, IPCSA and ArcelorMittal signed a development agreement in December 2014 in terms of which IPCSA is the project owner.  The power plant will be located in Saldanha Bay, approximately 150km north of Cape Town in the Western Cape Province. The Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power station will have an installed capacity of 1500MW with a potential to increase to 3000MW in future if required.

The plant will be erected on 123 hectares of the Saldanha Steel site, giving access to existing grid networks and will alleviate electricity supply pressures in the Western Cape. The power plant will supply all of up to 250MW of the power requirements for Saldanha Steel, while the additional electricity will be made available to support and sustain existing industry and encourage economic growth in Saldanha Bay, the West Coast District Municipality and the Western Cape Province.  Using its international expertise and associations, IPCSA has designed a complete end-to-end natural gas “virtual pipeline” solution for the Project. 

IPCSA’s team has over 65 years of project development and implementation experience around the world, including the Operations and Maintenance of more than 60 natural gas power plants.

Driver Trett will access its substantial international and local expertise and experience to support the Project.  Driver Trett’s first objective is the securing of seed capital for the completion of a bankable feasibility study which has already commenced. Initial findings indicate that this study will conclude a positive feasibility for the project’s successful execution. The company’s services will extend to strategic project advice and project management from feasibility through construction and completion.

David Brodie-Stedman, COO of Driver Trett for the AMEA region, stated "I am delighted that we have been able to secure the appointment of professional services for such a strategic and high profile project. Driver Trett especially appreciates the opportunity to contribute to improving power production in South Africa, while at the same time boosting the regional economy and creating much needed job opportunities. This appointment further strengthens our credentials in the development and project management of large infrastructure schemes."

About Driver Trett:

Driver Group has been providing consultancy services to the engineering and construction industries since 1978. Since acquiring Trett Consulting in 2012, Driver Trett has grown to over 500 members of staff, with offices across Africa, Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. The range of services offered across the Group provides support to the engineering and construction industries it serves, from ‘cradle to grave’.