The plan to build a 20-megawatt (MW) renewable energy plant in Richards Bay, on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, has been set in motion.
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), a state-owned entity, announced this week that it has appointed Amulet Group Consortium, which was the successful bidder, to begin the construction of the 20MW solar photovoltaics (PV) plant.
The renewable energy plant will be constructed at the Richards Bay port, which is South Africa’s deepest port and handles more cargo than any other port in the country.
Moshe Motlohi, the TNPA’s eastern region ports managing executive, said: “The construction of the plant is part of the TNPA’s commitment to decarbonise its port operations under its renewable energy purchase programme.
Completion of work set for May 2026
“Within this programme, TNPA plans to install an estimated 100MW of renewable energy that will be implemented cumulatively across its eight commercial sea ports.”
According to Motlohi, the consortium will be responsible for designing, constructing, testing, commissioning, and maintaining a 20MW solar PV plant with a battery energy system for seven years.
The work is expected to be completed by May 2026.
“The introduction of a renewable energy solution in the port system will enable the reduction of carbon emissions and greenhouse gas emissions from coal-generated electricity,” said Motlohi.
“It will further provide cost-effective and reliable energy supply to the port and its users.”
Turning Richards Bay into energy hub
The move, according to the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ), to erect the plant comes after the provincial government announced plans that the administration intends to turn Richards Bay into an energy hub.
The RBIDZ is a state-owned entity and the key driver of energy-related projects in the country.
The government’s strategy received a boost in 2023 with the decision by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa to approve Eskom’s application to build a 3 000MW gas power station at Richards Bay.
Battery storage has made a debut in the province as well.
South Korean firm Hyosung Heavy Industries has signed on to implement the Eskom project to create a battery energy storage system, in this instance in the uMgungundlovu district municipality.
