Recycling and waste
Recycling and waste management companies: With afocus on sustainability, waste reduction, and recyclingthe plant will create demand for solar panel recyclingservices and sustainable disposal solutions.PepsiCo’s Pioneer Foods facility in Upingtonmanufactures dried fruit products with thehelp of a cluster of rooftop solar panels.not just about energy production but also abouteconomic empowerment, industrial development andsocial upliftment. Below is a detailed breakdown of theprimary beneficiaries of this project.Local workforce and job seekersImpact: Direct employment for 300+ workers andthousands of indirect jobs.Unemployed youth and job seekers: With youthunemployment exceeding 60%, this project willprovide stable job opportunities in manufacturing,engineering, logistics and quality control.Skilled and semi-skilled workers: Training andemployment in solar-panel assembly, machineryoperation and maintenance.Women in the workforce: Promoting genderinclusivity by actively hiring and training womenin manufacturing, administration and management.Technical and vocational graduates: Collaborationswith TVET colleges and universities will createemployment pathways for recent graduates inengineering, electronics and industrial production.Local small and medium enterprises (SMEs)Impact: Business opportunities for suppliers, logisticsproviders and service contractors.Manufacturing and component suppliers: Localbusinesses involved in glass production, aluminiumframing, junction boxes and other raw materials willbenefit as suppliers to the plant.Logistics and transport companies: Warehousing,distribution and transport to move panels across SouthAfrica and for export will be required.Construction and engineering firms: Firms specialisingin infrastructure development will gain contracts forbuilding and maintaining the plant.Local communities and underprivileged groupsImpact: Community development, skills training andsocial upliftment.Communities in the manufacturing zone: Residentsin Industrial Development Zones (IDZs) where theplant is established will benefit from infrastructureimprovements and more services and business activity.Underprivileged and low-income groups: The projectwill initiate community training programmes,scholarships and learnerships to equip disadvantagedindividuals with the necessary skills.Social Enterprise Development: The plant’s corporatesocial responsibility (CSR) initiatives may supportentrepreneurs in the renewable energy sector,fostering the growth of locally owned small businesses.Renewable energy developers and solar installersImpact: More affordable, locally sourced solar panelsfor energy projects.Independent Power Producers (IPPs): The availabilityof cost-competitive, locally made solar panels willbenefit large-scale renewable energy projects underSouth Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent PowerProducer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).Small-scale solar installers: Entrepreneurs and SMEsinvolved in residential and commercial solar installationwill have access to high-quality, locally producedpanels at lower costs.Off-grid and rural electrification projects: Organisationsworking on solar mini-grids and rural electrification willhave a local supply of solar panels, reducing reliance onexpensive imports.Government and public sectorImpact: Economic growth, energy security andindustrialisation.Job creation and economic stimulus: The governmentwill benefit from reduced unemployment, increasedtax revenues and local industrial growth.Energy security and grid stability: The production ofpanels will support energy diversification, reducingdependence on coal and mitigating power outages.Reduction in trade deficit: By manufacturing solarpanels locally, South Africa will reduce its import bill,keeping economic value within the country instead
of spending billions on foreign solar panel purchases.Support for Just Energy Transition: The project alignswith national goals to transition from coal to renewableenergy, ensuring that displaced coal workers have newopportunities in the solar sector.Rural and urban households (energy consumers)Impact: Lower energy costs and increased access.Lower solar panel prices: The local production of solarpanels will help bring down costs, making solar energymore affordable for households and businesses.Improved energy access for rural communities: Theavailability of affordable solar technology will expandelectrification efforts in off-grid and underdevelopedareas, reducing reliance on expensive diesel generators.Resilience against loadshedding: Households installinglocally produced solar panels will experience greaterenergy independence, mitigating the impact offrequent power cuts.African and international marketsImpact: Position South Africa as a solar technologyleader in Africa.Regional export opportunities: Position South Africaas a solar panel supply hub for neighbouring Africancountries, strengthening trade relationships.Increased foreign investment: A strong solarmanufacturingindustry will attract foreign investors,research institutions and multinational renewableenergycompanies.Training in renewable technologies will be avital component of the proposed plant rollout.A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT FOR SAThe 300MW SSPMP is more than just an industrialdevelopment, it is a catalyst for economic empowerment,job creation and renewable energy progress.By reducing reliance on imports, fostering local skillsdevelopment and strengthening South Africa’s greeneconomy, this project will directly benefit thousands ofpeople across multiple sectors.Through local employment, SME growth, affordablesolar energy access and industrial expansion, thisinitiative will play a crucial role in South Africa’stransition to a cleaner, more resilient and inclusiveenergy futurePROJECT FINANCED BY• Equity partners and investors• Service providersPROJECT STATUSThe project is currently at the stage where ProjectFeasibility studies have begun and a Business Case isbeing prepared.PARTNERSHIPSThree strategic investors are on board at this stage.These are GlobRock Financial (USA), Nexus NovusCapital BV (Netherlands) and AIN Private Capital(South Africa).Regarding state entities, discussions are underwaywith the Northern Cape Economic DevelopmentAgency (NCEDA) for proposed project developmentlocations and incentives. The proposal has beensubmitted to the Just Energy Transition Fund forsupport in terms of feasibility studies.The National Department of Energy and Electricityis driving the South African Renewable EnergyMasterplan (SAREM). This proposal would fit withinSAREM and indications are that the departmentappears to be supportive. ■PHOTO: Future Africa and NepoworxPROJECT CONTACTSKili Energy (Technologies)Contact: Mfanafuthi Dube, Founder and CEOTel: 073 886 8164Email: dubem@kilienergy.co.zaPeull Energy Africa (Pty) Ltd (technical andproject development advisory)Contact: Peter Lello, DirectorTel: 064 027 5551Email: peter@peull.com
