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Rheinmetall has held a groundbreaking ceremony for a self-financed solar park to power the Rheinmetall Denel Munition site in Somerset West, announcing that additional energy will be fed into the grid.
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According to the global defence prime contractor, the park is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2023 and forms part of the company’s path to group-wide carbon neutrality by 2035.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Alan Winde, premier of the Western Cape, and Terrence Billson, chief executive officer of Genergy.
“The solar park will lay the groundwork for forward-looking new fields of business for the Somerset West plant, further expanding the company’s position in global markets while simultaneously benefiting people everywhere by helping to protect the climate and contributing to a sustainable future,” Armin Papperger, Rheinmetall chief executive, said.
The solar park has been designed to both power the plant, as well as support local energy needs, which includes supplying power to a nearby preschool.
The solar park also features backup emergency generators in the event of supply shocks prompted by load shedding.
According to the global defence prime, the project forms part of a broader program of social activities in the nation.
Last year, Rheinmetall Denel Munition opened the Career Community Centre in Macassar which included computers, internet access, and courses to support the local community.
“Rheinmetall is happy to be supporting our neighbours in Macassar with a fully-fledged Career Centre. Its mission is to equip job seekers with the skills they need to compete in the labour market,” Rheinmetall Denel Munition chief executive officer Jan-Patrick Helmsen explained.
Rheinmetall Denel Munition is a joint venture between Rheinmetall subsidiary Rheinmetall Waffe und Munition GmbH with a 51 per cent stake and South Africa’s Denel.
The news follows a May announcement that Rheinmetall had signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Ukrainian state-owned defence group Ukroboronprom to support Ukraine’s defence industry.
The agreement is expected to strengthen Ukraine’s defence industry and allow the creation of joint defence technology capabilities to reside in Ukraine from mid-July this year.
It also features the capacity for comprehensive transfer of technology and short-term delivery of military equipment from Germany, according to a public statement made by Rheinmetall on 13 May.
Papperger said Rheinmetall is working closely with the German government, assuring that help reaches Ukraine as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“Meeting Ukraine’s urgent needs in its fight for freedom and democracy as quickly as possible is a matter of central importance to us at Rheinmetall,” he said.
“Thanks to its expertise and capabilities, Rheinmetall has what it takes to be a valuable and powerful partner to Ukraine both in the short term and in the long run.
“We are pleased to have Ukroboronprom, led by Yuriy Husyev, as a very capable and trustworthy partner at our side.”
Papperger said the company is supporting the people of Ukraine in the form of humanitarian aid, financial support or military equipment.
Initially, the agreement will support the maintenance and repair of vehicles transferred to Ukraine under the German government’s multilateral “Ringtausch” equipment exchange project.
In later phases, cooperation partners intend to jointly produce selected Rheinmetall products in Ukraine. This could include joint development of military systems by teams of Ukrainian and German specialists, including for subsequent export from Ukraine.
Ukroboronprom general director Yuriy Husyev said Ukraine is thankful to Rheinmetall for their willingness to help defeat Russia.
“I am honoured to set up the joint venture between one of the world’s leading manufacturers in the defence industry, Rheinmetall, and leading full-scale operating Ukrainian defence producer,” he said.
“(This agreement increases) the production of military equipment and armoured vehicles despite of numerous Russian missiles attacks.
“We will do all our best to make this cooperation useful to defence forces of Ukraine as soon as possible.”
