Free State premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae said during her state of the province address (Sopa) at the Old Grey events centre in Bloemfontein on Friday (20/2), the province is increasingly playing a strategic role in strengthening South Africa’s national electricity grid through a well-structured renewable energy portfolio.

As of January, the province, working through the department of trade, industry and competition (DTIC), is tracking 29 renewable energy projects with capital investment exceeding R100bn, mobilised largely through private sector participation.

“Ongoing and planned projects like the Khauta Solar Project, Springbok solar plant, and Mulilo battery energy storage project continue to transform our landscape for the better,” she said.

The province’s renewable energy drive is anchored in the principles of the Just Energy Transition, aimed at balancing economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion. 

These investments are not only expanding clean energy capacity but also creating jobs, stimulating local enterprise development, and positioning the Free State as a competitive investment destination, she emphasised.

“We are reigniting growth through, among others, strategic development corridors. These corridors are key in unlocking our investment potential, creating jobs, improving connectivity, and facilitating trade.”

 Letsoha-Mathae highlighted the strategic importance of the Karoo development corridor in the southern part of the province. Anchored by the Gariep Dam, the largest dam in South Africa, and supported by major national routes including the N1, N6, and N8, the corridor connects the Free State with the Northern and Eastern Cape.

Tourism initiatives

Recognising the region’s economic and tourism potential, the three provinces are jointly driving mutually beneficial tourism initiatives. These include mixed-use developments, biodiversity-based tourism, heritage tourism, and water-based recreation anchored on the development prospects of the Gariep Dam. 

The collaborative approach aims to stimulate inclusive growth while preserving the region’s rich natural and cultural assets.

The Airport node and the upgrading of the N8 road infrastructure form part of the Mangaung development corridor, further strengthening connectivity between the Free State, Northern Cape, and Lesotho.

Energy and mineral development also feature prominently in the province’s long-term plans. The PV solar energy facility by the Springbok solar power plant, alongside Harmony Gold’s prospects of mining surface gold for the next 100 years, are key developments along the energy and minerals development corridor, said Letsoha-Mathae.

Initiatives

These multi-year initiatives are structured across several phases, with the provincial government engaging strategic partners to ensure effective implementation.

“We remain on track to engage with essential partners in this endeavour, such as Infrastructure South Africa, the department of trade, industry and competition, and others.”

Through a coordinated mix of renewable energy expansion, infrastructure development, and interprovincial collaboration, the Free State is positioning itself not merely as an energy consumer but as a central player in South Africa’s evolving green economy.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg