Leadership Changes in Zambia, Chinese Meaning

Leadership Changes in Zambia, Chinese Meaning
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
New leadership in Zambia could have a direct impact on one of its major investors and renewable energy proponent: China. Zambian opposition leader Michael Sata was sworn in as president on September 23, winning the majority of the votes with 45% compared to incumbent Rupiah Banda’s 35%, but his stance on China has many speculations rising to the forefront. And one of the major platforms that helped Sata’s campaign drive was his promise to share the country’s mineral wealth – particularly from its copper mines – with the public within 90 days. Mining firms and investors are concerned with the new leader’s promises which will force them to handover 25% interests to local firms, similar to Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe’s indigenization plan. Bloomberg quoted a Citigroup Inc. sub-Saharan Africa strategist that predicted a Sata administration will likely lead to higher taxes for mining companies. During Banda’s three-decade tenure, favorable taxes and regulations were implemented to entice copper mining companies and boost production to more than 700,000 metric tons just in the past year.

South Africa’s Green Coca Cola Plant

IBC Solar’s South African partner Lapp Group has successfully installed a solar PV system in Coca Cola’s Valpré plant at Heidelberg, South Africa. The system, helping to cut carbon emissions by 29.5 tons, is expected to generate about 50,000 kWh per year.

IBC supplied 132 IBC PolySol modules and two inverters with Lapp completing the installation and will be responsible for maintenance of the facility. “The company is setting a good example by building this PV facility”, said Alexander Müller, who is responsible for the Off-Grid Power Supply business at IBC Solar

Portable Solar Energy Hits Rwanda

Rwandan company Hasty Energy Ltd. and Taiwanese firm Nanowin Technology are shedding light in the East African country via portable solar energy.

The equipment available to residents in Kigali include portable solar generators that produce between 150 watts and 300 watts per day with three lights, power supply for two mobile phones, and an additional power outlet. The controller has built-in protection to combat over charging with a six-year warranty battery.

While the price of the system is still being negotiated, an executive said that the entire package should not exceed $4,400.

Tanzania, Uganda Join for Hydropower

East African countries are moving forward with increasing their electricity generation capacity with the most current coming from Uganda and Tanzania. The two countries have signed an agreement to build a 16-MW hydropower plant that will generate electricity as early as 2012.

The Kikagati/Murongo hydropower project will be constructed on the Kagera River on the Uganda/Tanzania border, according to a statement released by the East African Community (EAC).

Goldwind to build 200m$ Wind Farm in Illinois, United States

By Colin Houghton

While on an economic trade mission to China, US Governor for Illinois, Pat Quinn (centre, above), visited Beijing and announced plans for Goldwind to build a major wind farm in Shady Oaks, Lee County, Illinois, US. Work will begin later this year.

Goldwind USA Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co, LTD, based in Urumqi, Xinjiang, China. Goldwind USA established its headquarters in Chicago in 2010 to oversee operations in North and South America.
The Shady Oaks wind farm project, will provide 106.5 megawatts (MW) of power, and create more than 100 construction and a dozen permanent maintenance jobs in Illinois. The 71 permanent magnet direct drive 1.5MW Goldwind turbines will be manufactured in China, while some other components, such as the bearings for the turbines, will be manufactured by a US company in Ohio. Once operational, the project will provide enough energy to power 30,000 homes on the community.  The blades will be manufactured at LM Windpower’s facility in Grand Forks, South Dakota, a move that will help that company save 60-80 jobs which were slated to be laid off.

The cost of the project is estimated to be 200m$ and the energy produced will be sold to Commonwealth Edison under a 20 year power purchase agreement. Commonwealth Edison (commonly known as ComEd) is the largest electric utility in Illinois, serving the Chicago and Northern Illinois area.
“We intend to begin construction of the project in 2011,” Tim Rosenzweig, chief executive of Goldwind USA Inc., said in a recent interview. “We have a number of pending customers and expect to have significant orders in 2011.”