POWERCHINA Leads South Africa-China Energy Collaboration Through Investment Conference

Advancing Energy Investments: POWERCHINA's Role in the South Africa-China Energy Partnership

On August 3, 2026, the PowerChina Headquarters in Beijing became the backdrop for the two-day South Africa-China Electricity and Energy Investment Conference. This conference aimed to strengthen the decades-long relations between South Africa and China in the fields of energy and infrastructure. It was organized with the assistance of South Africa's Department of Electricity and Energy and the South African Embassy in China, underlining the collaborative commitment towards energy development.

With over 260 representatives from government, finance, and industry sectors in attendance, participants gathered to explore an impressive array of investment opportunities amounting to over R2.2 trillion, projected through to 2039. These investments are part of South Africa's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025, which covers various aspects like generation, transmission, and energy storage, as well as related manufacturing operations.

Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the Minister of Electricity and Energy for South Africa, emphasized the significance of this period, describing it as a decisive decade for transforming the nation's energy market. He expressed optimism regarding the IRP 2025 investment pipeline's potential to not only expand energy generation capacity but also to foster lasting infrastructure and industrial development through long-term partnerships.

POWERCHINA's President, Wang Xiaojun, expressed pride in the company's integral contributions to South Africa's power and water infrastructure since its inception in the country in 2008. Wang stated their readiness to collaborate with government agencies, financial institutions, and industry partners to transition projects from their planning stages into impactful implementations. The company's aim is to generate lasting value, which includes local procurement, skills development, and enhancing supply chain cooperation.

Under the guidelines of the IRP 2025, South Africa plans to boost its energy generation capacity by about 105 GW by 2039, featuring a diverse energy mix of solar, wind, battery storage, natural gas, and nuclear resources. An ambitious project to construct approximately 14,500 kilometers of transmission infrastructure is also in the pipeline, necessitating an estimated R440 billion investment over the forthcoming decade.

POWERCHINA's proven expertise in South Africa lays down a solid foundation for contributing to the next phase of infrastructure development. The firm’s existing and ongoing projects in the renewable energy sector, such as wind and solar photovoltaic installations, have already amounted to a combined capacity of 1.9 GW. In addition, their battery storage solutions currently under construction possess a collective capacity of 1.9 GWh.

Among their significant projects is the Redstone concentrated solar power facility, which stands as South Africa's largest tower-based molten salt solar thermal energy installation. It innovatively combines solar energy generation with thermal energy storage, enabling the provision of dispatchable renewable power. Furthermore, POWERCHINA is involved in the Oya hybrid facility project, seamlessly integrating wind, solar, and battery storage to foster a more flexible and reliable energy system.

The company’s efforts extend into bolstering water infrastructure, necessary for supporting electricity supply and industrial activities. An example is the Mokolo - Crocodile Water Augmentation Project Phase 2A, vital within South Africa's National Water Resource Strategy. Upon completion, it is projected to deliver upwards of 75 million cubic meters of water annually, aiding in securing water supplies for key power stations while also supporting wider industrial and community development.

Moreover, POWERCHINA prioritizes local procurement, subcontracting, and skills training in its project execution within South Africa. Through these initiatives, thousands of local jobs have been created and local suppliers have received essential assistance and development. At the Redstone project, for instance, a welding training center has been established and partnerships have formed with local universities to provide technical education related to concentrated solar power technologies. These programs aim to strengthen local technological capabilities essential for supporting South Africa's burgeoning energy landscape.

As the conference drew to a close, it laid a strong foundation for a proposed South Africa-China Energy Investment Partnership. With a shared commitment from POWERCHINA and South African partners, the focus remains on advancing trustworthy energy and water infrastructure that underpins both industrial advancement and sustainable economic growth.