South African Department Of Energy Selects Suzlon’s 138 MW Wind Energy Project For Cennergi

The wind power project was submitted by Cennergi under the second window of the Request for Bids for the Independent Power Producers Programme .

Cennergi is an equal joint venture between South Africa’s Exxaro Resources Limited (“Exxaro”) and The Tata Power Company Limited (“Tata Power”), India’s largest private power utility. Cennergi has chosen to use 66 of Suzlon’s S97-2.1 MW wind turbines for the wind farm project.

Suzlon will deliver the wind turbines under a full EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) agreement. Speaking on the partnership, Thomas Garner, Cennergi CEO said: “We had presented a very high quality bid, tailor-made for the energy needs of the Republic of South Africa. Suzlon’s vast experience in emerging markets and current standing in the energy sector in South Africa specifically, has been instrumental in securing this bid. We are very excited by this opportunity and are looking forward to building a very successful wind power project.”

Silas Zimu, CEO – Suzlon South Africa, added: “The selection of our wind turbines, once again, in the second window of the (RFP) process is testament to the quality of our products and services.

This wind power project is especially exciting as it shows how a South African Black empowered developer (Cennergi) partnered with a South African Black empowered manufacturer (Suzlon) can ensure that the Government’s commitments on wind energy are realized. The project is the largest of the awarded wind power projects during the bid.”

“This is yet another opportunity to continue in our objective to provide clean and green energy, and also to create many jobs.” Project construction is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2013.

Cennergi (Pty) Ltd., is a 50:50 joint venture between South African-based diversified resources company Exxaro Resources Limited (Exxaro) and The Tata Power Company Limited (Tata Power), of India, through its subsidiary Khopoli Investments Limited.

Cennergi is based in South Africa and will focus on the development, ownership, operation, maintenance, acquisition and management of electricity generation assets in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. The initial project pipeline focuses on renewable energy projects in South Africa and Cennergi’ s strategy is to create a balanced portfolio of diverse generation assets.

The Suzlon Group is ranked as the world’s fourth largest wind turbine supplier, in terms of cumulative installed capacity, at the end of 2010. The company’s global spread extends across Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa and North and South America with over 19,000 MW of wind energy capacity installed in 28 countries, operations across 32 countries and a workforce of over 13,000.

The Group offers one of the most comprehensive product portfolios – ranging from sub-megawatt on-shore wind turbines at 600 Kilowatts (KW), to the world’s largest commercial 6.15 MW offshore wind turbine – with a vertically integrated, low-cost, manufacturing base. The Group – headquartered at Suzlon One Earth in Pune, India – comprises Suzlon Energy Limited and its subsidiaries, including REpower Systems SE.

www.suzlon.com