Construction World July 2016

PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS

100 MW KATHU SOLAR PROJECT

ENGIE is pleased to announce that the Kathu Solar Park project in South Africa, owned by an ENGIE-led consortiumwith South African partners, has signed a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Eskom – South Africa’s state owned power utility – making it possible for construction at the site to begin shortly. The concentrated solar park, situated in the Northern Cape Province, 600 km South-West of Pretoria, is expected to be operational in the second half of 2018. Solar Power (CSP) project with parabolic trough technology and equipped with a molten salt storage system. > Kathu Solar Park, near Upington in the Northern Cape, is a 100 MW greenfield Concentrated

Kathu Solar Park is a 100 MW greenfield Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project with parabolic trough technology and equipped with a molten salt storage system that allows 4,5 hours of thermal energy storage and thus limits the intermittent nature of solar energy. Bruno Bensasson, CEO of the ENGIE Africa Business Unit, commented: “This is an important milestone for our first Concentrated Solar Power project in the ENGIE Group. The Kathu Solar Park project supports South Africa’s strategy of increasing the contribution of renewable power and also underlines our commitment to be a key partner in achieving sustainable energy generation in Africa.” The consortium, which is led by ENGIE (48,5%), includes a group of South African investors comprising SIOC Community Development Trust, the Investec bank, Lereko Metier and the Public Investment Corporation. The project is funded by a mix of debt and equity. The debt is funded from a club of South African banks, namely Rand Merchant Bank, Nedbank Capital, ABSA Capital, Investec and the Development Bank of South Africa. Approximately 1 200 jobs will be created during the construction phase. It is estimated that the Kathu Solar Park will save six million tonnes of CO 2 over 20 years and will further promote local economic development through various projects such as a local community trust for the benefit of communities in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality situated in the Northern Cape and sourcing of other services from local entrepreneurs. Kathu Solar Park has been awarded preferred bidder in the third round of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Program (REIPPPP) led by the South African Department of Energy (DOE). In Africa, ENGIE has interests in two operational wind farms, the 94 MW West Coast 1 wind farm in South Africa and the 301 MW Tarfaya wind farm in Morocco. ENGIE is also constructing two state-of-the-art thermal power generation units (Safi – 2 x 693 MW) in Morocco. Additionally in South Africa, the group owns and operates two thermal power peaking plants, the 670 MW Avon plant (under construction) and 335 MW Dedisa plant (in operation). Through Solairedirect, it is in charge of two solar photovoltaic parks with a total installed capacity of 21 MW located in theWestern Cape.

The Kathu Solar Park project in South Africa has signed a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Eskom.

26 CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION The Concrete Society of Southern Africa NPC is calling for nominations for its prestigious biennial Fulton Awards which recognise and honour excellence and innovation in the design and use of concrete.

we were focusing too much on the total project on hand, considering aspects that had little to do with the material”. So, irrespective of category, the criteria for adjudication that the judges will be using are: • Quality of concrete – focusing on finish • Sustainability – green building initiatives • Inventiveness/innovation in the application of concrete technology • Innovation in concrete construction methods • Innovative geotechnical use of concrete • Overall aesthetic impact of the concrete aspects of the structure • Rational behind the chosen concrete finish • Standard of workmanship of the concrete • Effect of the concrete on the architectural landscape and environment Some unique criteria will apply to the Innovation in Concrete category: • Significance of the use/application of the innovation

• Will it make concrete more competitive and therefore, grow the market? The new categories for 2017 are: • Buildings up to 3-storey • Buildings more than 3-storeys • Flatwork • Infrastructure

The awards continue to celebrate the legacy of scientific and technological advances in concrete within the built environment, and the late Dr. ‘Sandy’ Fulton’s life and achievements in the industry. The 2017 awards take on a new look with brand new categories, and a new approach to judging, and the Society is proud to announce that PPC are, once again, the Anchor Sponsor for the Awards. According to the John Sheath, CEO and director of the Concrete Society, after more than 30 years of the Awards’ existence, some serious updating was required in terms of >

• Innovation in concrete • Architectural concrete • Mining

The procedure for nominations has also changed. These can be made on-line through the Society’s website and will require a short motivation as to why it is felt that the nomination is worthy of an award. The judges will assess these nominations and a short-list of entries will be drawn up for subsequent adjudication on site. The deadline for nominations to be made is 31 August 2016, while the completed Entry Packs have to be submitted by the end of November 2016. The Award winners will be announced at a special gala weekend to be held in Drakensburg from 2 to 4 June 2017. Full details of the 2017 awards are avail- able on the Concrete Society website at www.concretesociety.co.za

both the criteria for adjudi- cation of the entries and the entry categories themselves, many of which had been in existence for the lifetime of the awards. “We had drifted away from identifying all that was special and exceptional in the concrete, Sheath said, “and in the opinion of the Fulton Awards Committee, John Sheath, CEO of the Concrete Society

• Industry need for this innovation • Does it address or contribute to sustainability issues?

CONSTRUCTION WORLD JULY 2016