Trade ministers from Saudi Arabia and South Africa jointly inaugurated the Bokpoort Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Project, which has been developed by a consortium led by ACWA Power in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, marking the official launch of the R5 billion project.

Saudi Arabia’s Commerce and Industry Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah and South Africa’s Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies officiated at the ceremony held at the site, which will provide enough power to more than 200,000 homes.

The project was developed as part of the government’s Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff (REFIT) Procurement Program, and will contribute significantly to the government initiative to augment the much needed power capacity, attract foreign direct investment, and create jobs while also stimulating the country’s economy.

The tariff offered by ACWA Power at the second procurement window was 12 percent lower than the cap set by government for CSP technology at that round, in line with ACWA Power’s mission to deliver reliable power at the lowest possible cost,

thereby contributing to the economic development of South Africa and social welfare of its citizens.

“The formal inauguration of the Bokpoort CSP plant is a significant milestone in supplying South Africa with reliable and cost-competitive renewable electricity,” said ACWA Power Chairman Mohammad Abunayyan.

Equipped with more than nine hours of thermal storage capacity, the Bokpoort CSP plant operates like a giant rechargeable battery.

Chris Ehlers, the company’s managing director for the Southern Africa region, said: “Our commitment to the development of South African economy beyond reliably supplying renewable energy at a cost-competitive tariff is demonstrated by the R2 billion worth of locally sourced components made in South Africa that has been used in the construction of this plant and the creation of 1,300 construction jobs.”