South Africa’s Mining group Exxaro was pursuing plans to generate up to 300 MW of renewable energy, and was making headway. Problems with the state-owned utility provider Eskom has many delving into RE, but Exxaro might also have its eye on selling power back into the national grid.
Thomas Garner, growth manager for energy at Exxaro, said: "We want to sell to the transmission system operator, which we expect will be split out of Eskom. There have been hold-ups with the policy and regulatory framework, but we expect this to be solved in due time."
Exxaro was installing measuring masts at its proposed 100 MW wind farm at Brand se Baai on the West Cape, and March would see measuring equipment installed at Lephalale in Limpopo for its 200 MW concentrated solar power plant.
"In the long term we are talking at least 500 MW in wind," Garner said. Prefeasibility studies for the various projects were under way, he said. Exxaro is also working on proving the economic feasibility of methane gas in neighboring Botswana, which, if successful, could be used to produce power, he said.
South Africa’s Exxaro Plans to Increase Power Supply Thursday, April 30, 2009
Exxaro Making Good on RE Word Wednesday, January 13, 2010
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