AfrElec: South African municipality Tshwane plans for independent 1,000-MW generation

The City of Tshwane, the largest metropolitan municipality in South Africa, has unveiled its plans to procure and generate its own electricity independently from the state-run power utility Eskom.

Mayor Cilliers Brink says Tshwane aims to generate at least 1,000 MW in the next three years to curb the effects of rolling power cuts in Pretoria and to lessen its reliance on the struggling national producer. This will start with the leasing of two idle coal-fired power stations belonging to the city. Both stations were designed to use anthracite coal but can be converted to gas, News24 reported.

According to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) 2022 Gas Master Plan, the municipality intends to lease and upgrade the Rooiwal power station with the aim of converting the feedstock usage from anthracite to fossil gas. The Pretoria West and Rooiwal sites reportedly have a strong potential for both solar and wind projects.

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