- South African solar panel manufacturer, Solar miAmisec (Pty) Ltd trading as ARTsolar, has filed a petition with the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa.
- They seek customs tariffs on all imported solar PV panels citing that there is no protection for module manufacturers in the country.
ARTsolar argues that currently no protection exists for photovoltaic module manufacturers in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) which is made up of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). A number of photovoltaic module/panel manufacturers had ceased their production operations in the SACU region due to high competition from low-priced imports.
ARTsolar also points out that the introduction of tariffs will retain the remaining local production capacity and jobs to enable the local industry to significantly grow. Unlike USA and Europe, South Africa does not have anti-dumping duties to help protect local manufacturers. Read the full custom tariff application,
Seraphim, a Chinese top ten tier one solar panel manufacturer also has a production facility in South Africa at the Coega Industrial Development Zone near Port Elizabeth. They recently announced that they will be expanding their module plant to include cell manufacturing. The new cell factory will be developed in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC).
The 200 MW module (solar panel) expansion will be for half-cut cell technology – adding to the factory’s capabilities, which is also expected to include glass-glass and bifacial, as well as standard frame. Read more
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
Seraphim is ready to supply Solar PV EPC’s in South Africa and the rest of the continent. The Seraphim sales team is ready to take your inquiries. Email: sales@seraphim-solar.co.za
