Google Injects $10.2m Into South Africa’s Power Project

AFRICAN MAIL – Google, the internet search engine giant, at the weekend said it had capitalised South Africa’s Jasper power project – set to be one of the largest solar installations in Africa – with R103 million ($10.2 million). The Jasper power project is a 96 megawatt solar photovoltaic plant to be constructed closer to Upington, a small town in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province. This comes shortly after Google announced that it plans to provide funding and assist in activating “wireless networks” in sub-Saharan Africa Google recently said it is in talks with relevant authorities from South Africa to Kenya in an effort to hook up a billion people in emerging markets The Jasper power project will be created and financed by the US project development firm, SolarReserve, solar farm developer, Intikon Energy and empowerment investment holding firm, the Khensani Group. The Public Investment Corporation (PIC), the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), the Peace Humansrus Trust and Rand Merchant Bank will also provide financial backing to the project. After completion, the Jasper project will have the ability to generate adequate electricity to power 30,000 households in South Africa. “South Africa’s strong resources and supportive policies for renewable energy make it an attractive place to invest – which is why it had the highest growth in clean energy investment in the world last year,” Google’s director of energy and sustainability, Rick Needham, said in a statement. “Just as compelling are the economic and social benefits that the project will bring to the local community. Jasper will create approximately 300 construction and 50 permanent jobs in a region experiencing high rates of unemployment, as well as providing rural development and education programmes and setting aside a portion of total project revenues – amounting to approximately US$26-million over the life of the project – for enterprise and socio-economic development.”