The Noupoort Community Trust, a 5% shareholder in Noupoort Wind Farm, recently held its first annual general meeting.  All Noupoort residents were invited to participate in the AGM and it was well attended.

“We were pleased to welcome Noupoort community members to the first annual general meeting as it gave us a chance to share information and answer questions,” explained Economic Development Manager for Noupoort Wind Farm, Livhuwani Nwachukwu.

The purpose of the AGM was to provide community feedback on activities of the Trust, and in particular, financial reporting. Being the very first AGM, Trustees were also introduced to the community and the Wind Farm used the opportunity to communicate the progress and details of the Economic Development programmes achieved to-date and for the year ahead.

“We were very pleased with the attendance and the positive response that we received from the community,” concluded Nwachukwu.

The Noupoort Community Trust is equally funded by the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the Noupoort Wind Farm Shareholders. A local community Trustee was appointed during 2016. The Trust was established to carry out public benefit activities in the local community.

Situated in the Umsobomvu Municipal Area located 10km east of Noupoort in the Northern Cape, Noupoort Wind Farm spans 7500 hectares and comprises thirty five 99m-high wind turbines.  The wind farm is now producing clean renewable electrical energy to meet the needs of almost 70 000 average South African households.  Noupoort Wind Farm achieved its Commercial Operations Date on schedule and on budget.  In addition to producing clean renewable energy, which eliminates approximately 300 000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year, the country benefits from minimal water consumption during the generation process and significant social and enterprise development programmes.

March 2017