- Seriti Green, in partnership with Eskom and the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), has officially handed over the newly completed Vunumoya Main Transmission Station (MTS) to Eskom.
- The more than R1 billion investment set to strengthen South Africa’s electricity grid and accelerate the country’s renewable energy rollout.
The milestone confirms that the Vunumoya MTS is fully energised, operational and integrated into the national grid. Its commissioning allows the first 155MW of wind power from Seriti Green’s Ummbila Emoyeni One Wind Energy Facility to be fed into the system ahead of schedule. This marks the initial phase of a broader 900MW renewable energy programme that will progressively increase clean generation capacity.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Seriti Group CEO Mike Teke said the project demonstrates the value of coordinated delivery in strengthening South Africa’s power system.
“Today’s handover of the Vunumoya Main Transmission Station demonstrates what effective partnership can achieve. This is a meaningful milestone for South Africa’s energy transition and for Mpumalanga’s future as a renewable energy hub,” Teke said.
The Vunumoya MTS is a core component of the Ummbila Emoyeni Renewable Energy Project, which is expected to become one of the largest wind and solar developments in the country. The station includes advanced 400kV and 132kV infrastructure, a 500MVA transformer and space to accommodate additional feeders and transformers for future expansion.
Eskom Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane praised the achievement, highlighting its significance for the reliability and modernisation of the national grid.
“This achievement is a clear demonstration of what collaboration and innovation can deliver. It accelerates South Africa’s energy transition and reinforces Eskom’s commitment to a sustainable future,” Marokane said.
Initially expected to come online in March 2026, the project’s first phase has been completed ahead of schedule, with energy from the wind facility set to start flowing into the grid from 28 November 2025. This power will be wheeled to Seriti Resources as part of the mining group’s long-term decarbonisation strategy.
NTCSA CEO Monde Bala said the project is essential to expanding South Africa’s transmission capacity and enabling large-scale renewable integration.
“The Vunumoya project forms part of the commitment to enabling the efficient integration of renewable energy projects into the grid,” Bala said, expressing gratitude to Seriti Green, NTCSA teams and project partners for their role in its successful delivery.
For Seriti Green, the handover marks the completion of a strategically important infrastructure project designed to unlock the region’s renewable energy potential.
Seriti Green CEO Peter Venn said the energisation of the station sets the stage for a multi-year renewable rollout that will benefit Mpumalanga and the country.
“The successful energisation of the Vunumoya MTS positions one of South Africa’s largest renewable projects for long-term impact. This milestone underscores Seriti Green’s commitment to developing clean energy at the scale required for South Africa’s Just Energy Transition,” Venn said.
Located in the heart of Mpumalanga, historically a coal-powered region, the Vunumoya MTS represents a major step in ensuring the province remains central to South Africa’s energy future. By enabling new renewable capacity to connect to the grid, the station supports national decarbonisation goals and contributes to a more diversified and secure electricity system.
Eskom reaffirmed its commitment to supporting South Africa’s Just Energy Transition, while the NTCSA emphasised its role in maintaining a robust transmission network, ensuring reliable system operation and facilitating future energy market development.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
