BETHAL- President Cyril Ramaphosa has commended Seriti Green for bringing the Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Farm into commercial operation, calling it a clear sign that South Africa’s Just Energy Transition is being delivered through practical action.
Addressing guests on Friday July 31 , the President said the project with more than 25 wind turbines proves Mpumalanga has more to offer than coal alone.
“Mpumalanga is known as the place of the rising sun, but it has not been known for its wind. In fact, some doubted the value of building a wind farm here. Seriti has shown confidence in this province and its potential,” Ramaphosa said
The President noted that Seriti, a company with a strong history in South Africa’s coal industry, is now investing in the country’s renewable future while the country continues to rely on coal as part of a diversified energy mix.
He said the project underscores the value of partnership between government, Eskom, the private sector and communities, and is already delivering jobs and skills.
More than 1,000 jobs have been created to date, with about half going to people living within a 10 kilometre radius of the site. Over 18,500 people have registered on the Seriti Green Skills Hub, with more than 50 percent of them women.
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“The true measure of the success of this just energy transition is the extent to which it creates opportunities for the South African people,” he said.
Ramaphosa also highlighted Seriti’s broader investment commitment, including R4.5 billion pledged at the 2023 South Africa Investment Conference and a further R10 billion announced earlier this year for renewable energy infrastructure.
On energy security, the President said load shedding is “behind us” and that work to end load reduction is bearing fruit in provinces including Mpumalanga.
He announced that a task team under the National Energy Crisis Committee has completed the first phase of work on establishing an independent Transmission System Operator, with a detailed implementation plan to follow.
“Electricity that is affordable, reliable and increasingly clean is the lifeblood of a growing economy,” Ramaphosa said. “For households, affordable electricity is a matter of dignity.”
He thanked Seriti Green, local contractors, workers and small businesses for their role, and said the Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Farm should stand as a symbol of South African ingenuity and partnership.
“For generations, Mpumalanga has powered South Africa and now it is paving the way to a new future,” he concluded.
