- The first phase of the Overberg Wind Farm project successfully reached financial close on 13 March 2025 with IPP, Red Rocket.
The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), alongside Absa Bank and Standard Bank, has played a pivotal role in financing this milestone project, reinforcing its commitment to accelerating infrastructure development that drives sustainable economic growth.
Once fully operational, the Overberg Wind Farm will be South Africa’s largest privately developed single wind farm, providing a total export capacity of 380MW. The first phase will see Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Group, secure 230MW through a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), delivering approximately 750GWh of clean energy annually. This will significantly reduce RBM’s carbon footprint, cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 30%, equivalent to 0.7 million tonnes of CO₂e per year.
The Overberg Wind Farm will be located near Swellendam in the Western Cape, it will feature 39 Goldwind 6.2MW turbines. With commercial operations expected to commence in early 2027 the project represents not just a step forward in renewable energy but a tangible investment in South Africa’s long-term energy security.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
