Wind Prospect secures first Zambian contract

Wind Prospect Africa (Pty) Ltd has embarked on its supply and services contract for Kafue Gorge Regional Training Centre (KGRTC) in Zambia, following contract award in November 2015. This success represents Wind Prospect’s first project in Zambia and is in line with the company’s strategy of expanding into further African countries.

The client, KGRTC, is a centre of excellence for energy training and research located near the 990MW Kafue Gorge Power Station owned by the Zambian electricity utility company ZESCO. The Wind Prospect team will supply and install wind monitoring equipment, as well as provide training and analysis services to manage the complete process to offer the client a turnkey package of services.

Wind Prospect is currently seeking environmental approval for a met mast and working with local suppliers to produce a feasibility study, assessing the wind resource and site viability. The study will include grid, civils, environmental and commercial aspects and will make recommendations on next steps towards the ultimate goal of a single turbine wind farm. A Memorandum of Understanding was agreed between Wind Prospect and partners Renewable NRG System who will provide the met mast and Stone Age Renewable who will install the mast, scheduled for August 2016.

As part of the contract, Wind Prospect experts will train staff from KGRTC in wind resource assessment and various aspects of wind farm development, construction and operation.

Wind Prospect Africa’s Sian Meath said “The project is a first in Zambia and broadens WPA’s footprint in Africa. The training element of this project is incredibly important. Upskilling the team offers long-term benefits to our client, partners and the project. Strengthening the expertise already present within the teams will deliver further return on investment over a sustained period of time.

“Under the contract the KGRTC team will also receive training in America and South Africa focussing on wind resource measurement and analysis as well as development of wind projects. We are delighted to be involved in this project and look forward to working together going forward.”

KGRTC’s Brian H M Makungo added: “The project is coming at the right time when the Government of the Republic of Zambia has prioritised renewable energy resource mapping, particularly targeting to increase the use of wind energy technology systems in the national electricity generation mix. This is essential to attract investment in renewable energy sector for sustainable development.”

The project is part of the KGRTC Business Development being implemented in line with the KGRTC Business Plan 2013 to 2017. Phase I of the project is being funded by Sida, the Swedish International Development Agency, and will run over two years. The project contracts were signed in September 2015 and Effective Date reached in early November.