Name of the Project
Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP).

Location
Nationwide, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.

Project Description
The DMRE issued a request for proposal (RFP) for the RMIPPPP in August 2020.

The RMIPPPP is a response to the short-term electricity supply gap identified in the Integrated Resource Plan 2019.

The objective of the RMIPPPP is to not only alleviate the current electricity supply constraints but also reduce the use of diesel-based peaking electrical generators.

The programme aims to procure 2 000 MW from a range of energy sources and technologies.

As a result of the emergency nature of the RMIPPPP, the objective is to procure energy from projects that are near ready.

Proposed technical solutions will have to be dispatchable and provide a range of support services to the grid system operator.

The projects should be able to operate between 05h00 and 21h30, and must have an automatic generation-control load, following ability, flexible capacity factors and must be scalable with changing capacity requirements.

The minimum contracted capacity of a project will be 50 MW and the maximum contracted capacity will be 450 MW, subject to availability and transmission evacuation capacity at the connection point.

The RFP is designed to support broad-based black economic-empowerment initiatives, including ownership and localisation. Bidders will have to make commitments in terms of job creation, socioeconomic development, supplier and enterprise development, as well as skills development.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
This RFP is expected to attract investment of about R40-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
All power procured under the RMIPPPP is expected to be fully operational by the end of June 2022.

Latest Developments
Bid registration and notification opened on August 24, 2020, and will close on October 30, 2020.

Bid submissions are expected on November 24, 2020, with the preferred bidder expected to announced in about mid-December 2020.

Financial close is expected to be achieved by April 30, 2021.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
DMRE, Natie Shabangu, email natie.shabangu@dmre.gov.za; or Thandiwe Maimane, email thandiwe.maimane@dmre.gov.za.