Swartland Municipality in the Western Cape is advancing plans to reduce its reliance on Eskom-supplied electricity through a long-term solar power procurement project aimed at strengthening local energy resilience.
The municipality intends to enter into a 20-year power purchase agreement with a National Energy Regulator of South Africa-registered independent power producer IPP for the development of a 10 MWp solar photovoltaic facility. The project is part of Swartlands broader strategy to diversify its electricity supply.
Approximately 30 hectares of municipal land in Malmesbury has been designated for the generation facility. According to the municipality, the site has been assessed as having low environmental sensitivity and is registered under the exclusion norms of the National Environmental Management Act adopted on March 27, 2024. As a result, no environmental authorisation is required for the development.
