Eskom secures licenses for new 75-megawatt solar facility near Lethabo Power Station in Sasolburg

SASOLBURG - State-owned utility Eskom has secured licenses for two new solar energy projects in South Africa, aiming to alleviate the country’s ongoing power shortages. The licenses, granted by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa), will support a 75 megawatt solar facility in the Free State and a 19.5 megawatt project in the Western Cape. The 75 megawatt facility will be located near Sasolburg’s Lethabo Power Station, a coal-fired plant with a capacity of 3.7 gigawatts. Eskom initiated tenders for this project in April, while a similar tender for the 19.5 megawatt plant near the Sere wind farm launched in September. Eskom will manage both sites post-construction, integrating solar power into its existing infrastructure. The projects align with Eskom’s strategy to expand renewable energy at its current power stations. Nersa highlighted that these efforts aim to address energy shortages impacting the South African economy, in line with President Cyril Ramaphosa's renewable energy targets.