Webber Wentzel won Transportation and Infrastructure Team of the Year at the 2023 African Legal Awards for acting for and advising Seriti Green on its rollout of circa 3.2GW of wind energy projects in Mpumalanga.
The firm continues to assist Seriti Green in considering the mechanism for managing risk, the development of a stringent pass-through regime between the various agreements, and the drafting, negotiation, and implementation of the various agreements in order to successfully execute the various wind energy projects planned.
The 155 MW wind energy facility is the first phase of a larger, circa 900MW renewable energy cluster called Ummbila Emoyeni located between Bethal and Morgenzon in Mpumalanga. Ummbila Emoyeni is a combination of 750 MW wind energy facilities and 150 MW solar PV plants which will be generated by Seriti Green and wheeled through the national grid to Seriti Resources' coal mining operations by 2025.
The entire project has been designated as a Strategic Integrated Project by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and marks the first step in Seriti Resources' journey towards carbon neutrality. It is also part of the Seriti Group's sustainability plan and will diversify their current coal holdings and provide a true life-after-mine solution in the coal mine-dominated area.
Webber Wentzel is at the forefront of developing market practices in the renewable energy sector in South Africa, and its involvement in this deal is testament to that.
The firm is also assisting Seriti Green with its acquisition of a major transport and craneage contractor.. This acquisition would be in line with Seriti Green's development footprint strategy as it intends to own the development value chain. The development footprint is of a market-leading scale, with Seriti Green having ambitions to extend its offtake portfolio across regional mines and industrials, as well as to continue to participate in REIPPPP and other state programmes.
Furthermore, the Seriti Group also intends to develop its own concrete tower manufacturing capabilities, earthwork, and civil work functionality and to develop an owner-operator model supported by long-term OEM service agreements.
See below other awards Webber Wentzel won at the 2023 African Legal Awards:
Competition and Regulatory Team of the Year
Employment Team of the Year
ESG Initiative of the Year
