The delivery of project cargo for the R9.4-billion XiNa Solar One renewable energy project in Pofadder Northern Cape was all in a day’s work for freight forwarding company Global Logistics Alliance (GLA).
“GLA was involved from the start of the project in 2015 and we are still doing the repair and maintenance shipments for this site,” said GLA’s Robyn Sampson.
The cargo was transported from various points of departure in Europe to the Port of Cape Town. “The abnormal cargo was sent to the port of Luderitz in Namibia and we also received smaller abnormal cargo at the ports of Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban,” said Sampson.
GLA has handled a total of 11 local and international solar projects to date – including Khi Solar One and Kaxu Solar One – and was therefore well prepared for the XiNa project. “Building on our accumulated experience we were able to mitigate any potential problems before they arose,” Sampson said.
He pointed out that the XiNa, Kaxu and Khi Solar One projects would collectively generate 250 MW of renewable energy power to Eskom over the next 20 years. “XiNa Solar One and Kaxu Solar One are South Africa’s first solar thermal plants which use parabolic troughs – making up the largest solar platform in sub-Saharan Africa,” said Sampson.
The project was an association between Spanish company Abengoa, the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), and the XiNa Community Trust.
CAPTION
Minister of Energy Jeff Radebe (left), pictured with Duane Lakey, director of Global Logistics Alliance, at the recent XiNa Solar One launch.
