Local News
Kimberley Airport solar power plant launched─── 07:46 Sat, 14 May 2016
Supplied
Kimberley - Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, opened the Kimberley Airport Solar Power Plant yesterday.
The plant, which started operations on April 19, forms part of Airports Company South Africa’s (ACSA) broader focus on minimising its environmental impact.
ACSA General Manager for regional airports, Jabulani Khambule, says the clean energy source will save the airport up to R60 000 a month on power costs.
“This project has cost ACSA R13.5 million and it occupies 0.7 hectares of land. The lifespan of that plant is 25 to 30 years. But one of the other great benefits is firstly, as I’ve said, cost management, but it also makes us efficient in terms of operations of the airport.”
The project also created 36 jobs.
Kimberley airport is the third of ACSA’s network of airports to be commissioned with a solar plant following George Airport and Upington Airport respectively.
Officials from the aviation sector, as well as key stakeholders in the transport industry, were present as the Minister of Transport officially unveiled the plant.
Moeketsi Mogotsi/OFM News
