Socio-economic & enterprise development |
We are committed to contributing to sustainable community growth through financial and non-financial community development initiatives. We will do this by giving back a percentage of total revenue earned to the community; through Socio-Economic Development (SED); Enterprise Development (ED); and the establishment of a Community Trust.
During the construction phase of the wind farm, the community had access to more job and business opportunities than were previously available in the area which traditionally suffers from high unemployment rates and poor levels of socio-economic development.
During the operations phase of Khobab Wind Farm, a monetary commitment has been made to specifically developing enterprises and improving the socio-economic welfare of the community for 20 years.
The residents of Loeriesfontein in the Northern Cape, situated approximately 60km away from the wind farm site, will be the beneficiaries of community initiatives carried out for the 20 year life-span of the wind farm.
Khobab Wind Farm’s socio-economic development projects will include healthcare initiatives such as HIV and AIDS awareness campaigns; infrastructure development; women empowerment and youth upliftment through investments in sport and recreational activities, academic support programmes and early childhood development.
Khobab Wind Farm will assist and accelerate the sustainability of local enterprises owned by previously disadvantaged people, with BBB-EE Recognition Levels, women-owned vendors and QSE’s and EMEs.
Any local business or individual that would like apply for business support in order to improve the functionality of their business should contact the Economic Development Manager for more information.
The Khobab Renewable Energy Community Trust owns 5% of the Wind Farm. Established through loans from the Development Bank of South Africa (50%) and company shareholder’s (50%), the trust will invest in community education, health, agriculture, sports and cultural, and social welfare development once the loan has been repaid.