Headquartered in Gbeja, Coega Steel (Coega Steels) has officially put into operation a solar photovoltaic power station with an installed capacity of 7.08 megawatts (MWp). The project has been identified as the largest single commercial solar project in the Eastern Cape to date.

The launch marks an important milestone in the decarbonization of South Africa's energy-intensive manufacturing sector. The project, jointly developed by Coga Steel and partner Emergent Energy, uses a hybrid roof-to-ground power supply system and deploys a total of 11,484 solar panels. The power station will supply renewable energy to the province's first steelmaking furnace facility, helping to transform the production process to a low-carbon direction.

In terms of capacity allocation, the first phase delivers peak 785 kW (kWp), and the second phase includes peak 3,906 kW rooftop photovoltaics and peak 3,174 kW ground arrays. This hybrid configuration significantly improves power generation efficiency and energy system resilience while optimizing available space.

The implementation of the project is expected to play a key role in reducing dependence on coal for power generation and promoting green steel production. This not only helps reduce carbon emissions, but also helps companies maintain industrial competitiveness in the global carbon constrained market. In addition to the environmental benefits, the facility supported 450 jobs related to Koga's steel operations, further highlighting the vital role of renewable energy in consolidating and contributing to industrial job growth in South Africa.