JSE-listed ELB’s ELBEngineering subsidiary, together with its project partner, KC Cottrell, has received notice to proceed with the building of a 25 MW biomass power plant for Ngodwana
Energy following the successful bid in terms of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. ELBEngineering, together with KC Cottrell, will design, procure, build and commission a wood-chip biomass power plant at Sappi’s Ngodwana Mill, in Mpumalanga.
The project will use biomass recovered from surrounding plantations and screened waste material from the mill production process. The power plant will burn up to 35 t/h of biomass in a boiler to generate steam and drive a turbine to generate electricity, which will be fed into the grid.
The project is expected to generate in excess of 2 500 labour-months of employment for South African citizens during the project phase, while the biomass recovery process lends itself to sustainable job creation and skills development over the life of the plant.
The project, which is expected to take 27 months to complete, will also make a meaningful contribution to the economy through the significant level of local procurement required.
