By Thulane Madalane
Bethal: On Thursday, Seriti Resources CEO Mike Teke and Seriti Green CEO Peter Venn were honored to welcome Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the Minister of Electricity and Energy, along with Jesta Sidell, MEC for Economic Development and Tourism in Mpumalanga, and Cllr NG Zuma, Executive Mayor of Govern Mbeki Local Municipality, along with local community leaders to the flagship Ummbila Emoyeni renewable energy project by Seriti Green.
The purpose of the Minister’s visit was to highlight Seriti Green’s commitment to advancing the South African government’s goals regarding the Just Energy Transition (JET) and to promote a sustainable, low-carbon energy future.
The Ummbila Emoyeni project, located between Bethal and Morgenzon in Mpumalanga, is structured in seven phases, the first three of which each comprise a 155MW wind energy facility, with commercial operations set to begin in the first half of 2027. Once operational, this project is anticipated to fulfill approximately 75% of the Seriti Group’s electricity needs, contributing significantly to the company’s decarbonisation efforts.
Ummbila Emoyeni is part of a larger 900MW hybrid renewable energy cluster that includes five wind farms and a solar photovoltaic (PV) facility, expected to be fully operational by 2027. This initiative will establish the largest hybrid renewable energy facility in South Africa.
The anticipated total capital investment for the project is R70 billion, with R385 million earmarked for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and fostering community development initiatives.
A significant focus of the Minister’s visit was the ongoing construction of the Main Transmission Substation (MTS). This R1 billion investment will ensure the efficient delivery of clean energy from the project to the national grid and, once complete, will be capable of supplying energy to approximately 500,000 households.
During his address to community members, suppliers, employees, and government officials, the Minister stressed the critical role of energy in driving economic growth.
“Energy leads and the rest follows. It must be affordable, and the mix must be right. Ummbila Emoyeni is a perfect illustration of the best of the renewable energy sector, and it is significant that it is taking place in Mpumalanga,” he stated.
The Minister also expressed his appreciation for the support provided by local farmers and the surrounding community throughout the project’s development.
Among the beneficiaries of Seriti Green funding was Lindokuhle Zwane, a 30-year-old emerging farmer from Davel, who conveyed her heartfelt gratitude: “I want to pass my sincere thanks to Seriti Green for this amazing opportunity and for funding me. They have helped me to start my agri-business journey, and I want to learn a lot from this programme. My dream is to become one of the recognisable players in agri-business,” she shared.
Busisiwe Dladla, the founder and director of Magalela Enterprise, also expressed her enthusiasm: “I am not just a woman waiting for things to happen; I am here to make my mark. I have already begun constructing a greenhouse to enable year-round farming, and I aspire to explore agro-processing to empower other women who are in the same situation I was in before Seriti Green provided me with this opportunity,” she remarked.
