MEDIA RELEASE FOR APPROVAL
SEPTEMBER 2013
KOUGA WIND FARM ON TRACK AT OYSTER BAY
Construction of the R2bn Kouga Wind Farm at Oyster Bay in the Eastern Cape is on track
with work teams upgrading access roads and casting foundation bases for the 32 turbines,
which will generate 80MW of clean and renewable power when it goes operational in the
final quarter of 2014.
German turbine manufacturer Nordex Energy has been contracted to supply the turbines
and is responsible for the final design and construction of the wind farm. Power Construction
and Actom have been subcontracted by Nordex to undertake the civil and electrical work
respectively.
The 80m high turbines require concrete foundations of 20m in diameter and Pieter Taljaard,
the site construction manager, said so far 12 of the 32 bases had been cast. “Progress has
been very good with the weather being very kind to us. Works are generally on track and in
some instances even ahead of schedule,” said Taljaard.
Shipping of the turbine equipment and parts shall take place between December 2013 and
May 2014 with the delivery and erection of the turbines scheduled to take place between
February and September 2014 depending on the weather conditions. “The wind turbines
currently seen on the roads in the region are not those for the Kouga Wind Farm, ours are
only due in the new year,” said Taljaard.
Work has also started on the wind farm substation and is progressing well, while the
electrical long lead items and switchgear have been ordered and will be installed during
the first half of 2014.
Eskom is responsible for the electrical grid connection and overhead power line to the
Kouga Wind Farm, and is on track to ensure the June 2014 grid connection date is met.
“Individual turbines at the Kouga Wind Farm will join the grid in June 2014, with the full 32turbines being operational by December 2014,” said Kouga Wind Farm project manager
Chris Els.
The project is funded by Standard Bank, Evolution One Fund (a specialised clean energy
fund advised by investment management firm Inspired Evolution), and the Industrial
Development Corporation.
A defining feature of the Kouga Wind Farm is that it far exceeds the new minimum threshold
of 2.5% community participation set for each Renewable Energy Bid. The Kouga Wind Farm
Community Development Trust holds a 26% shareholding in the project company and will
derive income from the sale of electricity to fund health, welfare, education, local
infrastructural and enterprise development projects.
The Kouga Wind Farm Project team and its sub-contractors have amongst others, been
involved in the following community initiatives:
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As part of the infrastructure development, Power Construction and Nordex have
spent in excess of R150 000 upgrading the main access road between St Francis Bay,
Oyster Bay and Humansdorp
Donated food parcels and blankets to the Sea Vista families in St Francis Bay who lost
their homes when a fire broke out on Sunday 28 July 2013.
In a joint initative with Power Construction the KWF team provide a free clinic
transport service from the Oyster Bay community hall to the clinic in Humansdorp.
“The wind farm is working closely with the Kouga Municipality and the local community to
identify further areas of need in the area as well as to plan its CSI initiatives in preparation for
the operating phase. Once the wind farm is commercially operational the wind farm’s
investment into the community as well as that of the community trust will increase
exponentially” said Mark Tanton, a director of the wind farm.
For information visit http://kougawindfarm.co.za or email info@kougawindfarm.co.za. Follow
us on twitter (twitter.com/KougaWindFarm) or “Like” us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/kougawindfarm or call the St Francis office (042) 294 1929 or the Cape
Town office (021) 790 3727.
ENDS
ISSUED BY
ON BEHALF OF
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES
SPLASH PR & MEDIA CONSULTANTS
KOUGA WIND FARM
DOUG CAREW
(021) 447 1208 or 084 814 7727
doug@splashpr.co.za