Eskom and the Netherlands officially launch Grootvlei Climate Smart Horticulture Centre in Mpumalanga, supporting the creation of substantial, sustainable jobs in the next 5 years

Eskom, the Government of the Netherlands and the Mpumalanga provincial government Tuesday officially launched the Grootvlei Climate Smart Horticulture Centre at the Grootvlei Power Station, marking a practical milestone in linking South Africa’s Just Energy Transition to new local economic opportunities in climate-smart food production and skills development.

The partnership will be implemented under the leadership of the Enterprising Africa Regional Network (EARN), 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.

The project is already delivering tangible outcomes. Eight community members from the Dipaleseng Municipality are currently being trained as greenhouse facilitators. Additionally, 75 agripreneurs, who are also community members, will participate in the Agripreneur Development Programme, commencing in April 2026.  Each agripreneur is expected to employ members from the community, and taken together, the programme is projected to support the creation of substantial sustainable jobs by 2030.

The Centre is a pilot initiative under Eskom’s Just Energy Transition (JET) Programme, demonstrating how repurposed energy-related infrastructure can support future-oriented economic activity beyond the energy sector. The focus is on practical training, skills development, and value-chain development in climate-smart horticulture rather than large-scale commercial production at this stage.

Tuesday’s launch programme was attended by the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, representatives of the Netherlands, and provincial and local municipal leadership, and included a guided tour of the facility, demonstrations of selected climate-smart technologies, and engagement with stakeholders from government, industry, Eskom Board, Eskom leadership and representatives, and the local community.

Roald Lapperre, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, emphasised the long-term commitment behind the partnership: “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together. But together, we’ll do our best to turn Grootvlei into a lasting success”.

He underscored that success should be judged by lived outcomes: “I believe in measuring progress not only in numbers, but in economically engaged people.”

He added that the Centre is designed to connect local and international role-players across the agricultural value chain, strengthening resilience and preparedness for economic and climate challenges.

The partnership with the Netherlands draws on internationally recognised Dutch expertise in high-tech horticulture, efficient water use, energy-smart production systems and value-chain organisation, while centering South African leadership, local implementation, and long-term growth ambitions for Mpumalanga.

“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.  We are grateful for the leadership by the Minister of Electricity and Energy as the primary convener of JET, the significant investment by the Government of the Netherlands and its partners and the support of the Mpumalanga Premier and the Dipaleseng Local Municipality,” said Eskom Board Chairperson, Mteto Nyati.

Grootvlei contributes to national priorities by creating jobs, building practical skills, supporting Black Economic Empowerment through local participation, and advancing South Africa’s energy transition in a way that is grounded in place-based economic development. Looking ahead, the Grootvlei Climate Smart Horticulture Centre is intended to inform the development of a broader agri-economic hub, integrating agriculture, skills development and logistics, with increasing private-sector participation.

The Grootvlei project reinforces that South Africa’s energy transition is not only about changing power sources, but about creating new economic futures for people, land and local communities.