BRICS Media Forum: Spotlight on a Chinese-South African wind power project

The sixth BRICS media forum opened in Johannesburg, highlighting Sino-African energy cooperation and the De Aar wind power project in South Africa. Participants discussed technological transition and energy cooperation for mutually beneficial development in Africa.

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The sixth BRICS Media Forum opened in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 19. Wang Min, Director of CHN Energy Investment Group, spoke about Sino-African cooperation in the energy sector in his opening speech.

BRICS Media Forum: The De Aar wind project in South Africa, a symbol of ecological cooperation and economic development

The De Aar wind power project effectively alleviates the electricity shortage in South Africa, promotes local economic development and plays an important role in protecting the local environment. Around 200 deputies from some 100 media organizations, think tanks and international organizations from 30 countries held discussions on the theme of “BRICS and Africa: Strengthening media dialogue for a shared and unbiased future”, with the aim of building high-quality BRICS friendship and developing the BRICS mechanism.

CHN Energy, one of the world’s largest energy suppliers, has built and manages South Africa’s largest wind power project, “De Aar Wind Power Project”, which supplies clean wind power to 300,000 homes a year, and is creatively building an inclusive eco-growth model that integrates project, company, society and environment. This project is considered a model of cooperation in the energy sector between the BRICS countries.

BRICS-Africa cooperation: ambassadors and experts testify to technological and economic progress in the energy sector

Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele, South Africa’s ambassador to China, said that BRICS countries are actively exploring ways to move from traditional production methods to high-tech production and digitization. Chinese companies played an important role in this process. Meilleur Murindabigwi, CEO of IGIHE Ltd, a mainstream media outlet in Rwanda, emphasized that Africa today is in dire need of this type of cooperation when he commented on the wind power project cooperated by CHN Energy and South Africa.

“China-Africa energy cooperation not only bridges the local energy gap, but also transfers technology and helps host countries train professionals. I hope there will be more energy cooperation in other African countries”, he declared.

Christopher Mutsvangwa, a member of the political bureau of the central committee of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF), ZANU PF’s information and publicity secretary and former ambassador to China, said Zimbabwe expected CHN Energy to come to Zimbabwe to carry out clean energy projects and work together to expand cooperation in the energy sector, including contributing to clean energy development to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results, as well as common development for all.

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Proparco has invested in the 100 MW Kipeto wind farm in Kenya, reinforcing France’s financial involvement in East Africa’s energy sector, without disclosing the amount of the transaction.
The Monte Cristo I project strengthens Terra-Gen’s presence in Texas with a total capacity of 273 MW and economic returns exceeding $100mn for local communities.
The UK is betting on a new contracts-for-difference model to secure up to 5.5 GW of offshore wind, despite a reduced budget and unprecedented competitive pressure.
CWP Energy and KfW IPEX-Bank have finalised a £400mn ($494mn) financing agreement for the Sanquhar II onshore wind farm, marking a strategic milestone in UK energy investments.
Nordex Group will deliver seven turbines for two wind farms commissioned by SSE in Aragón, strengthening their partnership and reinforcing the industrial supply chain in Spain.
German manufacturer Nordex has signed three orders with DenkerWulf for 25 onshore wind turbines, with a total capacity of 122.7 MW to be installed between 2027 and 2028 in northern Germany.
RWE won two projects totalling 21.6 MW in the latest onshore wind tender by the CRE, strengthening its presence in Oise and Morbihan and consolidating its investments in France.
Danish group Cadeler has signed two contracts for the transport and installation of offshore wind turbine foundations and units worth a combined €500mn, subject to a final investment decision by the client.
Shell withdraws from two floating wind projects in Scotland, reinforcing capital discipline in favour of faster-return activities. ScottishPower takes over MarramWind while CampionWind is returned to Crown Estate Scotland for reallocation.
J-POWER will take over Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ domestic onshore wind maintenance operations under a deal set to strengthen its local market position by spring 2026.
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Developer Q ENERGY has inaugurated a seventh wind farm in Biesles, Haute-Marne, with Velto Renewables acquiring a 50% ownership stake.
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The Canadian energy producer led the tenth wind tender launched by the CRE, with two projects representing 13% of the allocated capacity, strengthening its strategic position in the French market.
The European Commission has selected BW Ideol’s Fos3F project for a grant of up to €74mn, targeting the construction of a concrete floater plant for floating wind turbines at the industrial site of Fos-sur-Mer.
Canadian company Boralex reported a net loss of CAD30mn in the third quarter, impacted by lower electricity prices in France and adverse weather conditions in North America.
Energiekontor has closed financing for three new wind farms in Germany, strengthening its project portfolio and reaching a historic construction milestone in the 2025 fiscal year.

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