The facility, which will be located in Port Elizabeth’s COEGA industrial development zone, is expected to provide around 200 employment opportunities to the local community within the first year of production.
With the plant targeted to reach an initial annualised capacity of 150MW, production is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2014.
Both the companies also have the option to expand the production capacity of the facility up to 600MW to meet growth in regional demand.
JA Solar Holdings executive chairman and CEO Baofang Jin said the improved cost-effectiveness is making solar an increasingly attractive energy alternative in South Africa.
"This facility will play a crucial role as we seek to benefit from the significant growth potential across the Southern African region," Jin added.
Powerway South Africa managing director Charles Domingo said, "We’re seeing increasing demand for quality solar modules in the South African market and the central position of this facility means it is ideally located for exports from the COEGA Port and will serve project sites in Northern Cape, Western Cape,Gauteng and the greater Southern Africa region."
Image: JA Solar and Powerway to establish solar module manufacturing facility in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Photo: Courtesy of maya picture/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
