Name and Location
Wind tower manufacturing facility, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Client
DCD Wind Energy.

Project Description
The project involves the construction of a 22 000 m² wind tower manufacturing facility and associated infrastructure on behalf of renewable-energy company, DCD Wind Energy, in the Coega Industrial Development Zone. The project will include bulk earthworks; a 600 m² office block; 400 m² of change rooms and ablution facilities; concreted, paved and gravel hardstand areas; site works, services, paving to roads, parking area and walkways; and a perimeter fence and gatehouse.

The plant will have a capacity of 110 towers a year, which could be increased to 180 towers a year, should the market be sustainable enough to justify an additional investment. The manufacturing facility is being established to support the localisation of the wind turbine industry.

Value
R300-million.

Duration
Construction will start this month, with the factory becoming operational in November and producing the first units by December, while the ancillary offices and laydown area will be completed in February 2014.

Latest Developments
The Coega Development Corporation (CDC) has requested interested contractors to bid for the construction of the wind tower manufacturing facility on behalf of the DCD Wind Energy.

A prerequisite was that contractors had to be registered with the Construction Industry Development Board and the Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission.

Bidders would also have to submit broad-based black economic-empowerment certificates to be eligible for empowerment points.

Interested parties had until February 11 to submit their bids and the preferred bidder would be announced later in the month.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
DCD Wind Energy, tel +27 21 447 7404, fax +27 86 639 4676 or email hschoeman@dcd.co.za.