Sonnedix said in a statement today that it had completed all the main contracts for the project, including financing agreements with Nedbank and Standard Bank, engineering procurement and construction arrangements with Germany’s juwi, and the power purchase agreement with South Africa’s utility, Eskom.

 

Sonnedix is undertaking the project with local renewable energy developer, Mulilo, and said it expected construction to begin the first quarter of this year.

 

Franck Constant, president of Sonnedix, said: “This first closing in South Africa is a considerable milestone for our company. It confirms the growth strategy and added value of Sonnedix in new markets where clean renewable electricity is in high demand and cost effective compared to conventional power. Through this achievement, we are also pleased to reiterate our enthusiasm and dedication to make things happen as a leading global solar independent power producer for the government of South Africa, and increasing our presence in the country’s power supply industry for years to come.”

 

Late last year, there had been reports that the procurement programme’s third-round projects had encountered difficulties reaching close, though it was understood these problems had been overcome by the end of the year.

 

However, the South African government has yet to make an announcement expected at the end of November 2014 of winning bidders under the fourth round of the programme. It said in a statement just before Christmas that it would reveal the successful bidders early in the new year.

 

Juwi meanwhile put out its own statement on the Mulilo Sonnedix Prieska PV project. The German company will construct the plant through its South African subsidiary as well as providing operations and maintenance (O&M). Juwi proclaimed it to be the single biggest solar power station project the company has taken on to date.  

 

Source : www.pv-tech.org