What the Karoo’s new wind-energy corridor means for Murraysburg and Richmond
The Karoo's contribution to the easing of the national grid, and the positive environmental impact of sustainable energy production, is now well under way.
Three large wind farms under construction between Murraysburg and Richmond are expected to begin commercial operation before the end of 2026.
The Khangela, Umsinde and Ishwati Emoyeni wind farms form what is known as the Northern Cluster. The development represents an investment of almost R15 billion and will have a combined contracted generating capacity of 420 megawatts.
The scale of the project makes it an important addition to South Africa’s renewable-energy sector. For the small Karoo communities closest to the turbines, however, the project's significance will also depend on the jobs and development funding after construction ends.
Three wind farms and 96 turbines
Each of the three wind farms has a contracted capacity of 140 MW and consists of 32 turbines. This gives the Northern Cluster a total of 96 turbines spread across several farms near Murraysburg and Richmond, close to the border between the Western and Northern Cape.
According to project developer Anthem, the three facilities are situated between 25 and 30 kilometres from Murraysburg. Construction began in 2024 and commercial operation is planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.
The turbines are being supplied by Danish manufacturer Vestas. Each has a generating capacity of 4.5 MW, while the rotor measures 163 metres across. The steel towers were manufactured locally at Atlantis in the Western Cape.
Getting the equipment to the Karoo construction sites has been a major operation. More than 1 000 truck movements were needed after turbine components arrived at the Port of Ngqura in the Eastern Cape.
The deliveries caused periods of road congestion along the transport route. Civil and electrical work at the three sites is being undertaken by South African construction company Raubex.
Rain causes construction delays
Unusually heavy rainfall between February and June 2026 disrupted work at the sites, leading contractors to declare force majeure. This is a contractual step used when circumstances beyond a company’s control prevent work from continuing as planned.
Despite the disruption, Anthem CEO James Cumming told Engineering News that the company was hopeful that the wind farms would enter commercial operation before the end of the year.
Khangela and Umsinde are expected to begin producing electricity first. Those projects reached financial close in May 2024, while Ishwati followed in September of the same year. A shared transmission substation has already been built, along with around 70 kilometres of 132 kV powerlines. The substation was energised early in 2026 and has been transferred to the National Transmission Company South Africa.
Where will the electricity go?
The electricity will enter the national grid, but it has already been contracted to private customers through long-term power-purchase agreements.
Khangela will supply electricity to Richards Bay Minerals in KwaZulu-Natal, while power from Umsinde has been contracted to Sibanye-Stillwater. Electricity trader NOA will purchase the output from Ishwati.
This is possible through a process known as wheeling. Electricity generated in the Karoo is fed into the national network. The amount supplied is then accounted for against the electricity used by the customer elsewhere in the country.
The agreements run for between 20 and 25 years. When financial close was reached for Khangela and Umsinde, African Infrastructure Investment Managers said the projects would help mining companies reduce their dependence on more carbon-intensive electricity.
Richards Bay Minerals estimated that electricity from Khangela would meet about 26% of its existing energy needs while reducing its annual emissions by approximately 470 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Construction jobs will fall away
The Northern Cluster has created more than 1 400 construction jobs, according to figures supplied by Anthem. Once the wind farms are operating, that number is expected to fall to slightly more than 50 permanent operational positions.
This sharp decline is common with large infrastructure developments. Building a wind farm requires sizeable construction teams, while operation requires a much smaller technical and maintenance workforce.
Anthem says the projects will invest millions of rand in local development programmes over the next 20 years. Further information is needed about how many of the construction workers came from nearby towns, how many local businesses received contracts and what training has been provided to help residents qualify for permanent positions.
What remains in the Karoo?
Large wind farms can bring lease income to landowners, work for local contractors and additional economic activity during construction. These projects can also place pressure on roads while changing the appearance and land use of a rural area.
Because the Northern Cluster extends across farms near a provincial boundary, there are also practical questions about where municipal rates and other local payments will be made.
The developers have confirmed the scale of the investment, the number of jobs created and the intention to fund community development. The next measure of the project’s local value will be how those benefits are distributed.
By the end of 2026, electricity generated outside Murraysburg and Richmond may be used to power mines and industrial operations hundreds of kilometres away. The important question for neighbouring Karoo communities is how much of the project’s economic value will stay close to where that electricity is produced. Still, the Karoo's contribution to the easing of the national grid, and the positive environmental impact of sustainable energy production, is now well under way.
Liz Thorne
Mariana Balt
Lynette Spencer
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