Enel's subsidiary, Enel Green Power RSA, started construction of the 140-megawatt (MW) Nxuba wind farm in the Amatole district in South Africa's Eastern Cape province, the Italian energy group announced Tuesday.
The company will invest a total of over €200 million for the construction, according to the company's statement.
The project, which is slated to enter into operation by September 2020, is the group's third wind project in South Africa's Eastern Cape province.
The farm will be able to generate over 460 gigawatt-hours per year once fully up and running, while avoiding around 500 thousand tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions.
The wind farm has a 20-year power supply contract with the South African energy utility Eskom, as part of the government's tender for renewable energy, which awarded a total of five wind projects for 700 MW to the group in its fourth round in April 2015.
'Through the start of construction of the Nxuba wind farm, which is the first out of the five projects awarded to the company in South Africa's 2015 renewable tender to begin construction, Enel confirms its commitment to grow and strengthen its presence in the country,' said Antonio Cammisecra, head of Enel Group's global renewable energy business line, Enel Green Power.
'This new project reaffirms Enel Green Power RSA's contribution to further diversify South Africa's generation mix, while supplying sustainable energy to Eskom, and promoting the socio-economic growth of local communities,' Cammisecra added.
Enel Green Power RSA has more than 520 MW in two wind and five solar plants in operation in South Africa.
By Firdevs Yuksel
Anadolu Agency
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