Renewables developer Enel has started construction of the 140MW Nxuba wind project in South Africa’s Amatole district.
The wind farm, which is slated to enter into operation by September 2020, is the developer’s third wind farm in the Eastern Cape province.
Enel will invest over €200m in Nxuba’s construction, which forms part of the 700MW of wind capacity awarded to the company in April 2015, following the South African government’s renewable tender.
Nxuba will have a 20-year power supply agreement with the South African energy utility Eskom.
The other projects awarded to Enel in the fourth round of the tender are the 140MW Oyster Bay wind farm, also in the Eastern Cape, as well as the 140MW Garob, the 140MW Karusa and the 140MW Soetwater projects, all in the Northern Cape province.
Enel has committed to ensuring preferential procurement, and job creation in the surrounding communities, involving local businesses as suppliers, as well as providing free WiFi to communities in the area and holding wind technology training courses for locals.