AIM-listed Chariot, the Africa focused energy company, reports that Etana Energy, the South African electricity trading platform in which Chariot’s subsidiary, Chariot Generation and Trading, holds an economic interest of 34%, alongside H1 Holdings, Norfund and Standard Bank, has signed up a further 150MWAC in sole offtake from the Orkney 219MWDC solar photovoltaic project which has now reached financial close. Chariot Generation and Trading is co-owned by Chariot and the Mahlako Energy Fund.
The Orkney project, located in the North-West province of South Africa, is being built by Mulilo a leading renewable energy developer and independent power producer and will be financed by Mulilo and a consortium of South African financial institutions. Once operational, Orkney will have an export capacity of 150MWAC and is expected to produce around 478GWh of renewable electricity annually, which will be wheeled to Etana’s customers via South Africa’s national and municipal distribution network. This is the second project that has been completed through the Etana and Mulilo partnership, the first being the 75MWAC Du Plessis Dam Solar PV2 project that commenced construction last year.
Benoit Garrivier, CEO of Chariot’s Renewable Power division, commented: 'This is a further example of Etana delivering on its strategy and underlines how its business model is addressing both the supply and demand for renewable energy by enabling and instigating the build of these projects. Etana is executing its plans at pace, closing projects expected to generate in excess of 500MW in the last 12 months, and is, in turn, serving to help redefine and enhance South Africa’s long term energy infrastructure.'
Source: Chariot
