Name and Location
Khobab and Loeriesfontein wind farm projects, Northern Cape, South Africa.

Client
The wind farms are owned by a consortium led by Lekela Power, a joint venture between Actis and Mainstream Renewable Power.

Other members include Thebe Investment Corporation; the IDEAS Managed Fund; Futuregrowth Asset Management; Genesis Eco-Energy, in partnership with Lereko Metier Sustainable Capital; and the Khobab and Loeriesfontein Community Trusts.

Project Description
The project entails the construction of the Khobab and Loeriesfontein wind farms, which are situated adjacent to each other in the Hantam municipality, in the Northern Cape, which will have a combined generation capacity of 280 MW.

The energy generated by the new wind farms will be sold to South African power utility Eskom, in line with the 20-year power supply agreement, as part of the third round of the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme.

The wind turbines will be supplied by Siemens Wind Power, with the 99 m turbine towers being manufactured at the new Gestamp wind turbine tower factory, in Atlantis, in the Western Cape. Civil and electrical works will be completed by a consortium comprising Murray & Roberts Construction and Consolidated Power Projects.

Value
The wind farms represent a total investment of about R7-billion.

Duration
The projects are expected to be operational by December 2017.

Latest Developments
Construction started in September this year.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Siemens Wind Power (wind turbines), Gestamp (turbine towers) and Murray & Roberts Construction and Consolidated Power Projects (civil and electrical works).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Mainstream Renewable Power, tel +27 21 657 4040 or email Info-southafrica@mainstreamrp.com.
Actis, tel +27 11 778 5900, fax +27 11 327 7407 or email info@act.is.