• Sasol and Air Liquide officially inaugurated the 97.5 MW Damlaagte solar plant in South Africa's Free State province on October 27, 2025.
• The project represents the first operational site from the companies' joint 900 MW renewable energy program, targeting industrial emission reduction.
• Air Liquide aims for a 30% to 40% emission cut at its Secunda operations by 2031, while Sasol plans to secure up to 2 GW of renewable energy by 2030.

The Damlaagte solar plant, boasting a 97.5 MW capacity, was officially inaugurated on Monday, October 27, 2025, in South Africa’s Free State province. Developers Mainstream Renewable Power and Thembelihle Trust developed the facility. The infrastructure will supply renewable electricity to Sasol and Air Liquide facilities in Secunda, which houses one of the world's largest oxygen production sites.

The project marks the commissioning of the first site originating from the joint 900 MW program launched by the two industrial entities. The program aims to reduce the companies’ greenhouse gas emissions. Damlaagte will produce approximately 270 million kWh of clean electricity annually, directly injecting this power into the public Eskom grid. This capacity supports their decarbonization trajectory; Air Liquide targets a 30% to 40% emission reduction from its Secunda operations by 2031, while Sasol plans to secure up to 2 GW of renewable energy by 2030.

Titania Stefanus Zincke, Mainstream Renewable Power's Chief Operating Officer in South Africa, emphasized the strategic importance of the facility. "We feel privileged to provide Sasol and Air Liquide with a solution that directly supports their decarbonization objectives," she stated, adding that the project "sets a new benchmark for collaboration and quality."

Construction of the Damlaagte facility occurred between November 2023 and August 2025. The project mobilized approximately 2,000 workers, primarily from neighboring communities. Furthermore, over 150 people benefited from technical training through a skills development program designed to facilitate their integration into other regional solar energy projects.

This project aligns with South Africa’s national strategy. The government seeks to strengthen energy security while supporting industrial sector sustainability. South Africa actively diversifies its electricity mix, which coal still dominates by more than 80%, and simultaneously aims to attract increased private investment in clean energy.

This article was initially published in French by Abdoullah Diop

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum