GDF Suez to develop African plant

GDF Suez to develop African plant

Published: July 16, 2013

French energy group and South African miner team up for 600MW coal-fired project.

French power group GDF Suez and South African mining group Exxaro Resources have announced plans to develop a 600MW coal-fired power plant in the Limpopo province of South Africa.

Exxaro will supply the fuel for the plant from its nearby Thabametsi mine, which will provide up to 3.8mn tonnes per year.

GDF Suez has struck several deals in South Africa in recent months. The company has started construction of a 94MW wind farm in the West Cape province and in June signed power purchase agreements for two greenfield open-cycle turbine power plants in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

A spokesperson for GDF Suez told EMEA Finance that, given the early stage of development of this latest project, no decisions have been made regarding its financing package.