::::::::
[February is "Africa Month" on 13.7 Billion Years, focusing on biodiversity, conservation, sustainable development and ethical consumption.]"The sun never sets that there has not been fresh news," according to a Zulu proverb. And for South Africa, there is good news on the horizon, or perhaps high in the sky, around noontime.
Plans to build a 5GW solar power station, which would be the world's largest, have been confirmed by South Africa's energy minister Dipuo Peters, reports Forum for the Future. The proposed $10-15 billion facility will be built in the Northern Cape, one of the sunniest locations on Earth.
"The abundance of sunlight in the province would in future not only benefit farmers, holiday resorts and ice cold liquor merchants, but will also contribute significantly in relieving the stress on the national electricity grid," writes Earl Coetzee of the South African newpaper The New Age. The plant could supply South Africa with up to 10% of it electricity needs.
The master plan will be drawn up by the American engineering company Fluor Corporation (FLR) in collaboration with the Clinton Climate Initiative and the United States Department of Energy.
"The Solar Park which will be based in Upington, will to a large extent change the economic landscape of the province from over-reliance on agriculture and mining, to other sectors such as manufacturing and the supply of solar related parts and components," said Northern Cape Province Premier Hazel Jenkins during Friday's state of the province address.
Soon, that Zulu proverb might as well say, "The sun never sets that there has not been fresh solar power."
