Construction World April 2017

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD APRIL 2017 12
ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
The tower sections travel to Loeriesfontein, in the Northern Cape,
on the N1 via Worcester, Laingsburg and Beaufort West, a five day
journey of 1 396 km. The 53 m long blades together with other
components will travel a 1 158 km route along the N10 from the Port
of Ngqura to Graaff-Reinet, Beaufort West and on to the site. Trucks
with oversized trailers, varying in size of up to 57 m in length, will
deliver the various components to Khobab Wind Farm from late-
February, with the final load arriving during August 2017.
The locally manufactured sections mean that Khobab Wind Farm
has achieved local content commitments exceeding 40% of the
project’s total value. “Local content plays a vital role in the growth of
the renewable energy sector and its positive impact on the country,”
explained Kevin Foster, project manager of Khobab Wind Farm.
Residents in Loeriesfontein and the surrounding towns of
Niewoudtville and Calvinia have grown accustomed to wind turbine
According to Greg Austin, MD of juwi Renewable Energies, primary
economic development optimization efforts revolve around local
content (LC) and job creation which combined account for 50% of
the ED score. Up until now REIPPP projects have been awarded
70% on tariff and 30% on ED.
“We are finding since there is little difference in tariffs between
bidders, we have to differentiate ourselves by maximising ED and
one strategy is to fully integrate as possible the local community
into the projects,” said Austin.
“Renewable energy has contributed massively to foreign direct
investment, industrialisation and economic growth in South Africa
and the current delay in awarding the next rounds of the REIPP is
affecting ordinary people in local communities,“ said Austin, prior to
speaking at the African New Energy Update Conference to be held in
Cape Town next week.
“In our most recent project the Mulilo-Sonnedix Prieska PV3
Solar, which reached commercial operation in August 2016, the
key element of our strategy that lead to juwi being selected as the
EPC service provider for the project was due to the high level of
employment of the local community in constructing this 86 MW
solar plant in the Northern Cape.”
The local municipality of Siyathemba (including the towns of
Prieska, Niekerkshoop and Marydale) has a total workforce of
about 4 800 people. Unemployment is registered at 34,7%, with a
participation rate of 57,4%.
Economic development as a
competitive advantage
South Africa’s REIPP Procurement Programme awards
projects based both on electricity tariff and economic
development (ED) criteria. Since renewable electricity
tariffs have decreased over the last few years – 35% and
78% for wind and solar respectively since 2008 – project
owners are paying more attention to the competitive
advantage of ED targets while increasing the number of
local people employed on a project.
“We are very proud to confirm that over 50% of the total number of
people employed on the project involving the entire supply chain and
construction effort were from the Siyathemba local municipality.
911 or 19% of the total local municipality work force of 4 800 were
employed on the project in one way or another.
“At the same time we achieved a massive 69% of the total project
value that was spent in South Africa, both in the form of construction
contractors and equipment suppliers. Looking ahead, the IPP unit
of the Department of Energy have indicated scrapping Community
Ownership and moving this to another evaluation element. There will
be no cost implication and this move will support an increased socio-
economic Contribution to the Local Community. I believe this change
is a positive one,“ said Austin.
Job Creation Man months Employees
Total man months 10 013 1 740
RSA based citizens 9 993 1 720
RSA based black citizens 8 631 1 479
Skilled employees 5 227 435
RSA based skilled black citizens 4 182 348
Citizens from local communities 5 332 911
component sections making their way to Loeriesfontein, as Khobab
Wind Farm’s sister property, Loeriesfontein Wind Farm, has already
received all its abnormal loads.
The 53 m long wind turbine blades, tower sections, nacelles and
hubs travel on the N10 via Uitenhage, Graaff-Reinet, Beaufort West,
Three Sisters, and Carnarvon onto Loeriesfontein. “The blades,
towers, hubs and nacelles take approximately 3-days, travelling at
maximum speed of 50 to 70 km per hour,” explained Foster.
Road users are urged to exercise caution and to visit the
wind farm’s websites for additional information and updated
transportation schedules; . Transportation
is prohibited at night, during the school holiday period, on public
holidays, during festivals or other special events. In the towns of
Graaff-Reinet and Beaufort West transportation will be avoided
during peak traffic hours, as far as possible.
Khobab and Loeriesfontein Wind Farms, which together span
6 653 hectares, will produce an impressive combined output of
280 MW generated by their 122 wind turbines. This is equivalent of
240 000 average households being powered each year, providing a
massive boost to energy provision in the country. 
Components arrive at Khobab wind farm
The transportation of various wind turbine components
to Khobab Wind Farm have commenced with the first two
nacelles, two hubs, and three blades arriving at the wind
farm on 22 February 2017.