Licensed electricity trader Energy Exchange of Southern Africa (EXSA) reports that the entry into commercial operation of the 50 MW Ilikwa PV facility, where it has a 25 MW offtake allocation, has increased to three the number of solar generation sites in its portfolio.

The company, which is owned by Rand Merchant Bank and Remgro, has two existing solar plants in the Western Cape, and signed an agreement with Seriti Green last year to procure all of the electricity from a new 155 MW wind farm in Mpumalanga when it becomes operational in 2027.

The Ilikwa project has been built by Mainstream Renewable Power near Parys in the Free State, and is jointly owned by Mainstream (70%) and Investec (30%).

EXSA has entered into a long-term power purchase agreement to buy half of the electricity generated, which is wheeled into the national grid and re-sold under contracts to commercial and industrial customers.

EXSA's 25 MW allocation is expected to generate some 70 GWh of renewable energy yearly and will be sold by EXSA using a model that aggregates and blends energy from multiple sources to offer stable supply for customers that are seeking competitive tariffs and to decarbonise.

"Reaching commercial operation on this offtake with Mainstream is a strong signal of how quickly South Africa's private electricity market is maturing. It gives our commercial and industrial customers direct access to reliable, competitively priced solar power, while supporting the country's broader shift toward a more flexible and secure energy system,” EXSA CEO Wayne Cowie said in a statement.

Mainstream South Africa GM Hein Reyneke described the milestone as an exciting achievement for both it and EXSA, adding that it reflected their shared vision for sustainable growth and energy security in South Africa.

Construction on the facility began in October 2024 and was completed over 21 months, creating employment for over 2 600 people at its peak, including workers recruited from the neighbouring communities of Tumahole, Schonkenville and Vredefort.