Solar panel plant for PE
Multimillion-rand factory to be built in partnership with German specialists
IN an ambitious initiative expected to attract millions of rands in investment and ultimately create thousands of jobs, a Nelson Mandela Bay company is partnering with German technology and photovoltaic specialist firm Schmid to establish a solar panel manufacturing plant.
Unveiling their plans to erect the multimillion-rand facility within the Greenbushes Business Estate on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth yesterday, Commtrade Investments vice-chairman Ivan Alexander said the company anticipated breaking ground at the site in August, with production to begin 14 months later.
“The idea is to introduce a multi-faceted, phased manufacturing concern onto the site,” Alexander said.
“The base intention is to manufacture solar panels with their accompanying components from scratch.”
The capital and operational expenditure was expected to total around R7.8-billion when the plant was in full production.
Alexander and his partners in the business recently relocated back to their home city from Pretoria.
Commtrade, according to Alexander, has associated subsidiaries which include a solar energy business, Zimsolar Solutions SA.
“We have a somewhat unique business model around the solar panel production.
“We will not be selling the panels. We will be operating as independent power producers and are targeting business, manufacturing and domestic energy users,” he said.
“We will supply solar-generated power on an install, own and operate basis.
“We have agreements in place with a number of clients, many of which are based in other African countries.
“The factory will ultimately create about 5 000 jobs, but we are in the process of establishing a temporary factory here in Port Elizabeth to be able to service our existing clients until the Greenbushes facility is fully operational.”
Alexander said Schmid, with which they had signed agreements, would be involved in the design and build of the production operations at the new factory.
The plant would produce solar panels with far greater and more efficient energy yields than the panels being imported from China, he said.
“We are constantly hearing about South Africa trying to attract foreign investors. We believe in an entirely different approach. We prefer a funding model as opposed to an investor model.
“We are working towards creating the entire value chain around the manufacture of solar panels, from the components to the final product,” he said.
Warren Jack, of Warren Jack Property Group, which is handling negotiations over the site, said the proposed factory would be a significant boost for the growing light industrial node in Greenbushes.