Suzlon has received the notice to proceed for the construction of the Cookhouse wind energy facility in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
The company will supply 66 turbines to the 138.6-MW project and undertake operations and maintenance construction commenced last month.
The Cookhouse wind farm is the largest renewable energy project selected during round one of the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme.
It was developed in partnership with African Clean Energy Developments, a South African-based renewable energy project developer owned jointly by African Infrastructure Investment Managers (a company held by Old Mutual Investment Group - South Africa - and Macquarie Capital) and AFPOC Ltd.
Debt finance will be provided by The Standard Bank of South Africa Ltd, Nedbank Ltd and Futuregrowth Asset Management Proprietary Ltd whilst equity will be provided by AFPOC Ltd, African Infrastructure Investment Fund 2 Partnership, African Infrastructure Investment Fund 2 (Mauritius), Apollo Investment Partnership II, Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Ltd and the Cookhouse Wind Farm Community Trust.
Tulsi Tanti, founder, Chairman, Suzlon Group, said: “The financial closure of the Cookhouse project marks the commencement of our aspirations for South Africa.”