Did you know that the Free State has sizeable investment projects and opportunities? Count some of these projects, highlighted at the Free State’s energy Indaba this week?
Plans by Sasol to supply aviation fuels from green hydrogen are reportedly underway in the Free State.
In a 2-day energy Indaba held by the Province, it emerged that there are good investment prospects for solar power, uranium, hydropower, wind and hydrogen, among others.
The Province also reported that in 2019, Renergen, found significant amounts of helium in Virginia, which is said to be the site of the world’s richest helium recorded.
Currently, the company is constructing Phase 2 of a helium plant in Virginia, estimated at $1.16 billion.
There is also mining electricity infrastructure in the Matjhabeng area.
A write-up from the Province, confirmed these prospects are the reason for a collaborative effort to harness energy generation and distribution in the area, fostering the establishment of a Special Economic Zone in Matjhabeng Local Municipality.
The Xhariep District in the Southern part of the Province has the second best solar-radiation index after Upington in the Northern Cape. This makes it an ideal solar power generation and distribution location.
There are many other solar energy generating farms scattered throughout the Free State and feeding clean energy into the Eskom grid.
“We are the location of the Gariep and Vanderkloof hydropower stations that supply power to Eskom. Alongside these, there is the Kruisvallei hydropower plant in the Ash River between Clarens and Bethlehem.”
Picture: SEDA