Free State Business 2019 edition

A REGIONAL OVERVIEW OF
FREE STATE
PROVINCE
Gas and hydropower projects are powering ahead in South Africa’s
most centrally located province.
By John Young
New opportunities are opening up in the
Free State in the gas and energy sectors.
Several new licences to explore for gas have
been granted and a R200-million helium
extraction plant is under construction near Virginia.
With proven reserves of 25-billion cubic feet, the
rights to the field are owned by Renergen and they will
be worked by Afrox, a subsidiary of the Linde Group
of Germany.
The Stortemelk Hydropower Project (pictured)
was built as part of the national Renewable
Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement
Programme (REIPPPP). The collaboration of Renewable
Energy Holdings (REH), Aurecon and Earthworld
Architects delivered a facility with installed capacity
of 4.5MW on the As River. Unusually for a power plant,
the project won the 2017 Award for Architecture from
the South African Institute of Architects for the Free
State region.
Another emerging sector is solar energy. The
Xhariep, Lejweleputswa and Mangaung regions
have among the best direct solar radiation kWh/m²
in the country. Only Upington in the Northern Cape
has a better solar-radiation index. Rezoning for
solar farms has already taken place in Theunissen,
Bloemfontein, Fauresmith and Hoopstad.
Investment
Foreign investments into the Free State totalled
R8.4-billion in 2017 and the province has now
achieved the status of being a net exporter of
goods.
Relations have been established with 35 countries.
Africa and the BRICS grouping of Brazil, Russia,
India and China are focus areas. Other partnerships
based on education and trade include countries and
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