USTDA Connects U.S. Businesses to Gas Sector Opportunities in South Africa
August 23, 2018
Press Release
Lindi Kotze, Executive Manager, Legal Services, NOVO Energy and Chargé d’Affaires Jessye Lapenn, U.S. Mission South Africa. Back: Andri Hugo, CEO, NOVO Energy, Jacob Flewelling, USTDA Andrew Herscowitz, Coordinator of Power Africa

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant today to NOVO Energy (Pty) Ltd, a South African integrated natural gas company, supporting a feasibility study for a combined-cycle gas power plant. The plant would produce up to 450 megawatts and support related natural gas infrastructure at the existing Kelvin Power Station near Johannesburg in Gauteng Province, South Africa.

NOVO Energy selected EHS Support LLC (Pittsburgh, PA), an environmental, health, and safety consulting firm with gas and energy sector expertise to conduct the feasibility study.

Built in the 1960s, Kelvin Power Station currently produces power from only one of its two original coal-fired generating plants.  The study, which will evaluate the viability of implementing a combined-cycle gas power plant, including the gas supply options, will support the development of natural gas infrastructure in South Africa.

“USTDA is pleased to support this project which will help meet the growing gas demand in Gauteng Province and lead to the development of the associated infrastructure,” said Paul Marin, USTDA’s Acting Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa.  “This project creates opportunities for U.S. businesses to export technologies and services in support of South Africa’s growing natural gas sector.”

“NOVO Energy appreciates the opportunity provided by USTDA to assess the feasibility of this significant gas-to-power project,” said Andri Hugo, CEO of NOVO Energy.  “This supports the call to businesses by President Ramaphosa to create jobs and grow our economy.  The study will complement the Department of Trade and Industry’s gas industrialization aspirations as set out in the Industrial Policy Action Plan.  NOVO’s experience in developing alternative gas sources, infrastructure and new markets has established its capability to lead this initiative.”

Jessye Lapenn, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Mission in South Africa, signed the grant on behalf of USTDA along with Mr. Hugo at a ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.