The De Aar Wind Power Project in South Africa, a landmark achievement of China-Africa cooperation, was completed and commissioned in 2017 by CHN Energy Longyuan Power South Africa Branch. With a total investment of about RMB 2.5 billion and an installed capacity of 244.5 megawatts, it is the largest operational wind power project in South Africa and the first in Africa by a Chinese power enterprise to integrate investment, construction and operation.
The project delivers approximately 770 million kWh of clean electricity to the South African grid annually, effectively easing local power shortages and benefiting around 300,000 households. Its 163 turbines, each with a capacity of 1.5 MW, have become iconic landmarks in the Northern Cape Province.
CHN Energy Longyuan Power South Africa Branch actively fulfills its social responsibilities and is committed to cultivating local technical talent. The project has trained over 110 young professionals, with local employees now accounting for more than 80% of the workforce. Through an integrated learning–practice–employment pathway, the company provides vocational training and job opportunities for local youth.
Each year, the company invests over 4.5 million rand in scholarship programs, having supported 390 students to date. It has also spent nearly 4 million rand to purchase a specialized mobile medical bus that offers healthcare services to local residents, benefiting more than 50,000 people as of September 2025.
Chinese enterprises have not only created jobs but also equipped young people with practical skills, effectively promoting local economic growth and improving people’s livelihoods, said a local official in De Aar.
