By Greentechlead Africa: Tata Power, India’s largest
integrated power company announced that Cennergi, Tata’s South African joint
venture company with Exxaro has been selected as the “Preferred
Bidder” for two wind projects in South Africa.
Department of Energy, South Africa (DoE), has selected
Cennergi for the 139 MW Amakhala wind farm project and the 95 MW Tsitsikamma
wind farm project.
The bids for these projects were submitted under the
second window of the Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme by the
Department of Energy, South Africa (DoE).
DoE has approved 19 wind, solar and hydropower
proposals in a second bidding round. South Africa plans to add 3,725 megawatts
by the end of 2016. The whole program will cost an estimated 100 billion rand.
“Tata Power’s global footprint has been further
augmented through its JV with Exxaro to explore electricity generation
opportunities across South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. We are pleased to
share that Cennergi has been announced as preferred bidder for two wind
projects of 234 MW – Amakhala 139 MW and Tsitsikamma 95 MW,”
said Anil Sardana, MD, Tata
Power.
Cennergi is looking forward to be the leading cleaner
energy independent power producer (IPP) in Southern Africa. The partnership
with Tata Power will add the skills and capabilities necessary to create a
world class energy company in the region with enormous growth opportunities.
“We had presented a very high quality bid,
tailor-made for the energy needs of the Republic of South Africa. We are very
excited by this opportunity and are looking forward to building successful wind
projects,” said Thomas Garner, CEO, Cennergi.
Cennergi’s initial project pipeline focuses on renewable
energy projects in Southern Africa and Cennergi’s strategy is to create a
balanced portfolio of generation assets.
Tata Power to generate 25 percent of total power via
renewable energy sources
Recently, Tata Power announced it is planning to
generate a quarter of total power produced through renewable energy sources in
the next few years. The company is also open to buying stakes in companies
working to develop clean energy technologies.