South Africa: Launch of Grootvlei Climate Smart Horticulture Centre

Eskom, in partnership with the Government of the Netherlands and the Mpumalanga provincial government, has officially launched the Grootvlei Climate Smart Horticulture Centre at the Grootvlei Power Station.

The initiative represents a major milestone in connecting South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET) with new local economic opportunities in climate-smart agriculture and skills development.

According to a joint statement, the project is already producing concrete results. Eight community members from the Dipaleseng Municipality are currently receiving training as greenhouse facilitators, while 75 local agripreneurs are set to join the Agripreneur Development Programme starting in April 2026. Each participant is expected to employ additional community members, with the broader programme projected to generate substantial sustainable employment by 2030.

The Grootvlei Centre is one of Eskom’s pilot projects under the JET Programme, demonstrating how repurposed energy infrastructure can drive new, future-focused economic activities beyond the traditional energy sector. “The focus at this stage is on hands-on training, upskilling, and value-chain development in climate-smart horticulture rather than large-scale commercial production,” Eskom noted.

Eskom Board Chairperson Mteto Nyati hailed the initiative as a model of successful collaboration. “This project is an exciting early example of key partners joining forces to create new economic opportunities that safeguard livelihoods as South Africa transitions from a high-carbon to a lower-carbon economy,” he said. Nyati expressed appreciation for the leadership of the Minister of Electricity and Energy, the investment of the Netherlands government and its partners, and the support of the Mpumalanga Premier and Dipaleseng Local Municipality.

Looking ahead, Eskom said the development of the Grootvlei Centre remains a long-term priority. The project is expected to evolve into a broader agri-economic hub that integrates agriculture, skills development, and logistics while encouraging greater private-sector participation.

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