Tsitsikamma wind farm reaches commercial operation

18th August 2016 By: Megan van Wyngaardt - Creamer Media Contributing Editor Online

The 95 MW Tsitsikamma Community wind farm project, in the Eastern Cape, this week started commercial operation, marking the second wind farm by independent power producer Cennergi to achieve the milestone this year.

Cennergi, a 50:50 joint venture between coal miner Exxaro Resources and India’s Tata Power, was selected as the preferred bidder for two wind projects under the second window of government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.

“The commissioning of the wind farm fulfils our vision of extending our position in the energy value-chain beyond coal. In addition, it is a tangible commitment to our environmental stewardship to reduce the impacts of carbon emissions in the medium-to-long term, while addressing the country’s short-term electricity needs,” Exxaro CEO Mxolisi Mgojo said in a statement on Thursday.

Cennergi CEO Thomas Garner added that the commissioning was a culmination of many years of hard work and dedication from the Cennergi team, in partnership with its stakeholders.

“It is a privilege to have community partners that have joined hands with Cennergi to write a new narrative for development in South Africa. We will assist and support the Tsitsikamma Mfengu community to use this project to further determine their ideal future.”

Earlier this month, Cennergi celebrated the commercial start of its 134 MW Amakhala Emoyeni wind farm near Bedford, in the Eastern Cape.