Share

Big boost for Eskom wind, solar plants

 Johannesburg - The African Development Bank may lend South African power utility Eskom $270m (R1.9bn) to fund its wind and solar power projects, the bank's climate change and energy director said on Tuesday.

Hela Cheikhrouhou said the bank would mediate an additional $100m from the World Bank's Clean Technology Fund.

"The AfDB expects to channel up to $370m loan from its own resources and from the (World Bank's) Clean Technology Fund," she said in an emailed response to questions.

The total $370m would be used to help fund Eskom's proposed Sere wind farm, expected to produce up to 200 MW and the utility's planned 100 MW concentrated solar power plant.

Cheikhrouhou said the bank expects to take the loan to its board for approval by the end of June.

Eskom may get additional loans from development finance institutions such as the KfW, Agence Francaise de Developpement and the European Investment Bank for the two plants, she said.

Cheikhrouhou said the AfDB may also support at least one project under South Africa's renewable energy feed-in-tariff programme and provide credit lines for renewable and energy efficiency projects to local banks.

The AfDB is advising the DRC government on the development of the Inga hydropower project on the Congo River and may support some other energy projects in the region.

"We do expect to approve at least a couple of hundred million dollars in the sub-region on the energy sector in the 2011-13 period," Cheikhrouhou said.
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
19.15
-0.7%
Rand - Pound
23.82
-0.6%
Rand - Euro
20.39
-0.5%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.30
-0.5%
Rand - Yen
0.12
-0.6%
Platinum
950.40
-0.3%
Palladium
1,028.50
-0.6%
Gold
2,378.37
+0.7%
Silver
28.25
+0.1%
Brent-ruolie
87.29
-3.1%
Top 40
67,190
+0.4%
All Share
73,271
+0.4%
Resource 10
63,297
-0.1%
Industrial 25
98,419
+0.6%
Financial 15
15,480
+0.6%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders