Garner stated that the remaining 2,500 MW of power would be obtained from renewable energies including solar, wind and coal-bed methane gas.
South Africa’s power regulator has expressed its desire for IPPs to supply 30% of new production as the nation has undergone power rationing after Eskom witnessed a near breakdown of the national power grid in January 2008.
According to South Africa’s proposal, IPPs will generate an extra 4,500 MW that will be delivered into the system by 2014. The producers are yet to be discovered by Eskom.
Garner said “Depending on how the regulatory framework pans out, the power could be supplied to the national grid, sold to private clients or even distributed via the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).”
In northern Limpopo province, the coal-based power would be generated, for which a new mine would be started.
Garner affirmed that solar power would be produced in Limpopo and the Northern province, and the company would try to create wind farms on the nation’s western coast.
Exxaro has entered into an alliance with Promethium Carbon, a South African firm, to generate power from wind, but is still searching for partners for other projects.
Garner said “In the long term we are talking at least 500 MW in wind.”
