South Africa’s R77-million Bethlehem Hydroelectric project will be commissioned in November, according to project development company NuPlanet MD Anton-Louis Oliver.
The project’s development initially began in 2001 with capital originating from the Development Bank of Southern Africa. However, it was announced in mid-December that the project was delayed after start-up fees went from R77 million to R100 million.
NuPlanet had announced in July that it hoped to come to commission the plant before December 25; however, commissioning was delayed several times from its initially scheduled commissioning date. Oliver said the delays stemmed from late design changes, delays in finalizing the construction of an Eskom transmission line, and substation that also pushed back the completion date.
The project, upon completion, will operate two renewable energy power stations using water from the As River, generating and selling 28 GWh a year to the surrounding area.
The company is also in discussions with state-owned power utility Eskom, to sell hydropower through its Medium Term Power Purchase Program (MTPPP).