Mantashe announces 8 bidders to produce independent power

Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe briefed the media in Pretoria on Thursday. 

The bid submission closed in December last year and attracted 28 bid responses. 

The bidders are expected to bring in 1845 megawatts of electricity onto the national grid and an additional 3 eligible bids expected to bring in 150 megawatts. 

Mantashe said they are working as fast as they can on the independent power producers programs as they are under pressure to add to the grid. 

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While Eskom continues to implement load shedding, the power utility has a shortfall of 4000 megawatts for the next five years. 

The following bidders have been announced: 

1. ACAWA Power project DAO

2. Karpowership SA Coega 

3. Karpowership SA Richards Bay 

4. Karpowership SA Saldanha 

5. Mulilo Total Coega 

6. Mulilo Total Hydra Storage 

7. Oya Energy Hybrid Facility 

8. Umoyilanga Energy

They will bring power from different sources including, wind, solar PV, liquified natural gas and battery storage.

The prices range from R1468 per megawatt per hour to R1885 megawatts per hour. 

Mantashe said these bidders are 41% black-owned and are expected to create an estimated 3800 job opportunities in the 18 months.

They are expected to add additional power to the grid in August 2022. 

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He added the long-awaited renewable energy IPP bidding round 5 will open at midnight on Thursday. 

“Of the 2600 megawatts from bid window 5; 1600 will be from wind and 1000 from solar PV. Given the energy challenge we are facing the objective is to get these connected to the grid as soon as possible, the closing date for bid submission is August 2021,” said Mantashe 

He said they will issue another request in the next 12 months.