Bidding for the repurposing of Komatie soon
Since 2017 Middelburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry has been lobbying on all available platforms that there is an economic future for our region in Power Generation.
MCCI is glad to report that Energy Transition Office Head Mandy Rambharos reported last week that the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the repowering and repurposing
Komati Power Station could be released within the next two months as soon as the internal and government governance matters have been settled.
Rambhoras said that the comprehensive social impact reports would be completed for Komati, Hendrina, Grootvlei and Camden to and these reports will be published soon.
Many local Energy Intensive Users and other businesses in the area rely on the Komanti and Henderina Power Stations’ repurposing.
MCCI has been urging that Eskom and the government investigate and promote the stations’ repowering, using renewable energy and storage solutions, or possibly switching their fuel sources to either gas or hydrogen.
Rambhoras said that for the Komati RFP, Eskom would most probably seek repowering proposals involving solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage technologies.
“We are very keen to move quickly towards implementation at Komati this year but have not ruled out parallel processes at the other power stations,” Rambharos said.
“For now, we are focusing on getting Komati off the ground to have that first demonstration project up and running.”
Komati currently has only one operating unit, which is scheduled for closure within two years.
MCCI is eagerly awaiting the implementation of the repurposing of Komati.
Many of our businesses were adversely affected by the Optimum Mine fiasco and want to see our region revitalised with new opportunities and economic growth.