Minister opens renewable energy plant

December 2007 News Industrial (Industry) Mining (Industry)

A 4,2 MW independently owned biogas to electricity plant has just been launched at the state-owned gas-to-liquids refinery, PetroSA, located in Mossel Bay. The facility is unique in South Africa as it is the first of its kind operating under the Kyoto protocol. The Department of Minerals and Energy view this project as a catalyst for the development of other renewable energy projects in the future. Over the lifetime of the plant more than 500 000 tons of carbon dioxide will be prevented from entering the atmosphere.

The major shareholders in the company owning the plant are WSP Group, CEF (a subsidiary of the Department of Minerals and Energy), NRG (a BEE investor in energy projects) and Ikamva Labantu Empowerment Trust. Construction time was 11 months and the plant was opened by the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica.

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