About 500 unemployed residents in Kimberley and surrounding areas benefited from the renewable solar energy project in Kalkbult farm.

The project which is run by Scatec Solar and supported by the department of energy has subcontractors who have also recruited and trained more than 500 employees, mainly from the local community, at levels ranging from technical skills to finance and project management.

The company report says 16% of the employees were women who participated at all levels from management and administration to construction.

Scatec Solar was awarded the Kalkbult project by the department of energy, under the first round of the South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme in December 2011.

Company CEO Raymond Carlse, said immediately after the end of the financial year in November 2012 the company commenced construction of the plant, which consists of more than 312000 solar panels mounted on 156km of substructure, inverters, transformers and a high voltage substation.

“I am very proud of our staff and contractors who have been able to complete this substantial project three months ahead of schedule, demonstrating how swiftly utility-scale solar energy plants can be built and put into operation,” Carlsen said.

Construction of the next two projects near Hanover in the Northern Cape and near Burgersdorp in the Eastern Cape, has started and completion is mid-2014.
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