Eskom Begins Construction Of 75 MW Solar Plant At Lethabo Power Station In South Africa

South Africa’s state-owned power utility, Eskom, has officially started construction of a new 75-megawatt solar power plant at the Lethabo Power Station in the Free State Province. The project marks an important step for the utility as it begins adding large-scale renewable energy facilities to existing coal-fired power station sites. This development reflects Eskom’s broader strategy to diversify South Africa’s energy mix while maintaining grid stability.

The solar power project is valued at nearly 1.2 billion Rand and is expected to generate around 147 gigawatt-hours of electricity every year after completion. Eskom stated that the clean electricity produced by the facility will be enough to supply nearly 60,000 households. The utility also highlighted that the project will create economic opportunities for nearby communities through employment, skills development, and local business participation during construction and future operations.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by several senior government officials and Eskom executives. Among those present were Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the premiers of the Free State and Gauteng provinces, Eskom Board Chairman Mteto Nyati, and Eskom Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane. Their participation underlined the importance of the project for South Africa’s energy transition plans.

Speaking at the event, Dan Marokane said the project demonstrates Eskom’s commitment to securing the country’s long-term energy future. He explained that Eskom recently completed a full year without loadshedding after implementing a generation recovery plan that improved the performance of its power stations. According to him, the improved stability of the national grid now allows Eskom to gradually integrate renewable energy sources while maintaining a reliable electricity supply.

Eskom officials also noted that coal power stations will continue to play an important role in supporting South Africa’s electricity system. However, the addition of renewable energy projects such as solar plants can help lower carbon emissions and improve environmental sustainability at existing power generation sites.

The Lethabo solar project forms part of Eskom’s larger renewable energy and battery storage programme. The utility plans to develop 17 priority renewable projects across several coal-fired power station sites, including Arnot, Duvha, Majuba, and Tutuka. Through these projects, Eskom aims to add nearly 6 gigawatts of renewable and storage capacity by 2030.

Eskom confirmed that funding for the Lethabo project and several other advanced renewable projects planned for 2026 has already been secured within its approved budget. Looking ahead, the company plans to expand further into solar, wind, battery storage, and green hydrogen projects, with a long-term target of developing more than 32 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2040.