South Africa risks missing a new wave of global solar manufacturing opportunities unless longstanding policy barriers are addressed, the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association SAPVIA has warned. Presenting an updated localisation analysis on December 9, SAPVIA CEO Rethabile Melamu said policy coherence and certainty remain essential to building a competitive domestic value chain.
The briefing outlined the scale of South Africas missed industrialisation potential after stalling the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme at Bid Window 4. According to Melamu, cancelled and closed manufacturing investments amounted to R1,69 billion with eight factory closures and 1 190 jobs lost. Earlier rounds supported R990 million in investment, 15 operational factories and 760 manufacturing jobs.
SAPVIA said the updated localisation study builds on its 2022 report and assesses South Africas current manufacturing capabilities across the solar PV value chain including mineral inputs, components, assembly, installation and end-of-life processes. The value chain diagrams presented during the briefing illustrate the extent of potential localisation opportunities from module lamination and mounting structures to cables, transformers, civil works and panel recycling.
