Eskom, the Netherlands government and the Mpumalanga provincial government have officially launched the Grootvlei Climate Smart Horticulture Centre at Grootvlei Power Station in Mpumalanga in a pilot initiative under Eskom’s Just Energy Transition Programme, which uses a power station site to support new economic activity.
The project is being implemented under the leadership of the Enterprising Africa Regional Network with support from the Mpumalanga Green Cluster, Seed2Feed Foundation, Holland Green Tech, Ridder, Bosman Van Zaal, Van der Hoeven/Van der Straaten Acampo, Svensson and Control Union.
According to the partners, the centre focuses on practical training, skills development and value chain development in climate-smart horticulture rather than large-scale commercial production at this stage.
Eight community members from the Dipaleseng Local Municipality are currently being trained as greenhouse facilitators. In addition, 75 agripreneurs from the community are expected to participate in an development programme starting in April 2026. Each agripreneur is expected to employ local community members and the programme is expected to support the creation of sustainable jobs by 2030.
“This project is an exciting early example of key stakeholders coming together to develop new economic activities that protect livelihoods and the local community as South Africa moves from a high-carbon to a lower-carbon economy,” said Eskom Board Chairperson Mteto Nyati.
