- The Eastern Cape and Northern Cape have signed a cooperation agreement to streamline approvals for the 940 MW Koruson clean energy corridor.
- The framework will coordinate permitting, transmission planning and community investment across provincial and municipal boundaries.
The Eastern Cape and Northern Cape governments have signed a cooperation agreement for the 940 MW Koruson clean energy corridor.
The provinces signed the memorandum at the Phezukomoya wind farm in Noupoort. The agreement creates a joint framework for cross-border energy projects. The framework will coordinate spatial planning, land-use approvals and environmental reviews. It will also establish an interprovincial oversight committee.
The agreement addresses regulatory challenges across municipal boundaries. Several Koruson assets operate across different provincial and municipal jurisdictions. Koruson 1 represents the first phase of the development. EDF Power Solutions manages the 420 MW wind portfolio.
The portfolio includes the San Kraal, Phezukomoya and Coleskop wind projects. The projects will connect through a shared 1.5 GW transmission station. The transmission station sits outside Middelburg. It will connect the projects to South Africa’s national electricity grid.
Koruson 2 represents the second phase. Envusa Energy operates the 520 MW hybrid portfolio. Envusa Energy is a joint venture between Anglo American and EDF Power Solutions. Its portfolio combines wind and solar generation.
The portfolio includes the Umsobomvu and Hartebeesthoek wind farms. It also includes the 240 MW Mooi Plaats solar plant. Envusa Energy has commissioned a 400 kV transmission substation. The facility supplies electricity to 10 major mining complexes.
The mining companies have signed 20-year corporate power purchase agreements. These contracts provide long-term electricity supply arrangements. The new framework will also support transmission development. It will establish structured rights-of-way for high-voltage power lines.
The arrangement aims to reduce permitting delays for private developers. It will also improve coordination between provincial and municipal authorities. Eastern Cape Economic Development MEC Nonkqubela Pieters said the agreement must deliver benefits beyond power generation. “Success cannot be measured only in megawatts generated or infrastructure installed,” Pieters said.
She said the agreement would strengthen coordination with municipalities. It would also help ensure communities receive measurable benefits from new investments. The provinces will also coordinate community development funding. EDF Power Solutions and Envusa Energy plan to establish a single Koruson Trust.
The trust will support agricultural enterprise development and livestock programmes. It will also fund local healthcare infrastructure.
Northern Cape Office of the Premier Director-General Advocate Justice Bekebeke said the project supports South Africa’s energy security goals. The framework could also guide future cross-border energy projects. Private mining companies continue to expand renewable power and captive generation capacity across South Africa.