MechChem Africa January-February 2023

Concentrated solar thermal plant with molten salt central receiver Grinaker-LTA Civil Engineering division’s General Manager, Chris Tshivhidzo, who was responsible for overseeing the company’s project execution on the Redstone Concentrated Solar Thermal (CSP) power plant project, talks about the company’s role and its pride in participating in this landmark renewable energy project.

Grinaker-LTA’s Civil Engineering division’s scope of work included the construction of the critical structures in the thermal power plant.

G rinaker-LTA’s role in the Redstone ConcentratedSolarThermal (CSP) power plant project in the North ern Cape, which is the largest investment made to date in terms of the South African Renewable Energy Indepen dent Power Producer (REIPP) Procurement Programme, consisted of the construction of package C3 civils permanent works. This afforded Grinaker-LTA the opportu nity to gain a firm foothold in the growing local renewable energy space. The national importance of this pivotal renewable energy project was underscored by an official visit by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who recently toured the site. Abdool Shaikh, Managing Executive of Grinaker-LTA’s Civil Engineering division, says that President Ramaphosa, together with the client and an entourage comprising various government members and local dig nitaries, took part in a site visit to Redstone

CSP power plant in October. “This was a real honour for all parties concerned in the construction of this landmark renewable energy project,” he enthuses. “President Ramaphosa took a keen interest in all facets of the project, paying close attention to the detailed full-scale model of the CSP power plant, before donning the requisite personal protective equipment (PPE) and inspecting the site. "As a tier-one, 100% black-owned con struction company, Grinaker-LTA is pleased and proud to have been part of this event – and to have played a role in the construction of this ground-breaking renewable energy power plant,” he adds. Overview Redstone CSP plant The 100 MW Redstone CSP plant, which forms part of the South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer (REIPP) Procurement Programme, is the

first project financed CSP in the world with a molten salt central receiver, and one of the largest investments in South Africa under the REIPP. Following commissioning, commercial operation is scheduled to com mence towards the end of 2023. With 12 hours of full-load energy stor age, Redstone wi l l be able to rel iably deliver a stable electricity supply to more than 200 000 South African homes during peak demand periods, even well after the sun has set. As bid leader on the project, Grinaker LTA Civil Engineering division’s General Manager, Chris Tshivhidzo, was responsible for overseeing operations on the project execution, while managing the construc tion schedule and the budget. Tshivhidzo clarifies that the company was awarded the civil permanent package C3 work by international investors. H e e x p l a i n s : “ E l e c t r i c P o w e r

28 ¦ MechChem Africa • January-February 2023