Seriti Resources, a top thermal coal supplier to struggling state power utility Eskom, is investing in wind power in the latest move by industry to wean itself off a national grid plagued by power cuts.
The move by Seriti is a stark illustration of the switch to renewables being hastened by Eskom’s inability to meet demand and implementation of “loadshedding”, or scheduled power cuts, which have reached record levels.
The 4-billion-rand ($234 million) wind farm will be the first step in 900 MW of renewable energy projects planned by Seriti, saying these will help ease rolling power cuts in Africa’s most advanced economy.
Seriti last August launched its foray into renewable energy with the acquisition of Windlab Africa’s wind and solar energy assets.